NASA's New Horizons and IMAP missions are revealing how interstellar material slows solar wind at the heliosphere's edge, where the Sun's influence meets galactic resistance. Scientists are mapping the boundary where the solar wind gradually decelerates and studying fundamental plasma processes that define this complex cosmic shield around our solar system.
·New Horizons detects interstellar material causing solar wind slowdown at the heliosphere's outer edge
·IMAP spacecraft reaches orbit to begin comprehensive heliosphere and space weather study
·Solar wind forecasting techniques emerging to better predict and define heliosphere boundaries
·Astronomers identify the specific location where the Sun encounters galactic resistance
·New research focuses on plasma processes driving solar wind behavior in the inner heliosphere
drawn from EurekAlert!, Phys.org, Gizmodo, The Brighter Side of News · updated 1d ago