The solar wind is a stream of charged particles released from the upper atmosphere of the Sun, called the corona. This plasma creates the heliosphere, a vast bubble that surrounds the Solar System and protects us from significant amounts of cosmic radiation.
The Heliosphere is the vast, bubble-like region of space that encompasses the Solar System and is dominated by plasma emanated from the Sun, known as the solar wind.
The Heliosphere is the vast, bubble-like region of space that encompasses the Solar System and is dominated by plasma emanated from the Sun, known as the solar wind.
Voyager Spacecraft
Humanity's Farthest Explorers
The Voyager program consists of two robotic interstellar probes, Voyager 1 and Voyager 2. Launched in 1977, they have provided invaluable data about the outer planets and are now exploring the interstellar medium, carrying the Golden Record as a message to potential extraterrestrial civilizations.
Voyager 1: ~170 AU
Voyager 2: ~142 AU
Launched: 1977 AD
Voyager Spacecraft
Humanity's Farthest Explorers
The Voyager program consists of two robotic interstellar probes, Voyager 1 and Voyager 2. Launched in 1977, they have provided invaluable data about the outer planets and are now exploring the interstellar medium, carrying the Golden Record as a message to potential extraterrestrial civilizations.
Voyager 1: ~170 AU
Voyager 2: ~142 AU
Launched: 1977 AD
Solar Wind
Stream of Charged Particles
The solar wind is a stream of charged particles released from the upper atmosphere of the Sun, called the corona. This plasma creates the heliosphere, a vast bubble that surrounds the Solar System and protects us from significant amounts of cosmic radiation.
Speed: 400-750 km/s
Temp: 1 MK
Composition: e- & p+ mostly
Hydrogen Wall
Pile-up of Neutral Hydrogen
The hydrogen wall is a region between the bow shock and the heliopause where neutral hydrogen atoms from the interstellar medium slow down and pile up as they interact with the heliosphere. It represents one of the boundaries between our solar system and the rest of the galaxy.
Discovered: 1992 AD
Type: Scattering Region
Distance: ~120-150 AU
Cosmic Rays
High-Energy Particles
Cosmic rays are high-energy protons and atomic nuclei that move through space at nearly the speed of light. They originate from the Sun, from outside of the Solar System in our own galaxy, and from distant galaxies, often produced by energetic events like supernovae.