The solar system has been the subject of numerous studies till date. An interesting discovery made by Voyager space crafts found that the solar system is dented. This discovery has been made from the ‘edge’ of the solar system. The edge of the system is where the solar wind runs up against thin gas.
It is this wind that blows in every which way. Although, it mostly blows in an outward direction. Yet another element in the solar system is the boundary between heliosphere and interstellar space. This boundary as the scientists claim is in an abrupt shock wave. Back in 2004, NASA’s space craft Voyager 1 probed this shock wave area and found out that the shock wave is dented i.e. there’s a small hole in the shock wave.
In another mission launched by NASA back in the year 1977, Voyager 2 reported a similar squash in the shock wave boundary. So, it is clear that there is a hole in the solar system. However, the space scientists are not quite sure as to what caused this whole or what would ‘fill’ up this hole. I think it’s quite shocking that such a dent exist in the solar system.
I wonder if that has anything to do with the global climate change. Although, I seriously doubt. Anyway, both the space crafts (Voyager 1 and 2) are currently in the heliosheath and they are supposed to continue outward beyond the very last reaches of the sun’s winds.
Image Credits: Space
