NASA - Giant Ribbon Discovered At The Edge of the Solar System

October 15, 2009: For years, researchers have known that the solar system is surrounded by a vast bubble of magnetism. Called the "heliosphere," it springs from the sun and extends far beyond the orbit of Pluto, providing a first line of defense against cosmic rays and interstellar clouds that try to enter our local space. Although the heliosphere is huge and literally fills the sky, it emits no light and no one has actually seen it.

NASA linkie

"This is a shocking new result," says IBEX principal investigator Dave McComas of the Southwest Research Institute. "We had no idea this ribbon existed--or what has created it. Our previous ideas about the outer heliosphere are going to have to be revised."


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Although the ribbon looks bright in the IBEX map, it does not glow in any conventional sense. The ribbon is not a source of light, but rather a source of particles--energetic neutral atoms or ENAs. IBEX's sensors can detect these particles, which are produced in the outer heliosphere where the solar wind begins to slow down and mix with interstellar matter from outside the solar system.

"This ribbon winds between the two Voyager spacecraft and was not observed by either of them," notes Eric Christian, IBEX deputy mission scientist at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center. "It's like having two weather stations, but missing the big storm that runs between them."

NASA image of ENA Ribbon

"IBEX is now making a second all-sky map, and we're eager to see if the ribbon is changing," says McComas. "Watching the ribbon evolve--if it is evolving--could yield more clues."

Stay tuned for updates

I can't really add anything pertinent to this thread; I just think it's fascinating. If/When additional images are acquired, I'll post them.

Wonder if this somehow figures into the Pioneer anomalies scenario. Good find! Will be interested in updates, too.

Definitely one of the most interesting threads I've perused lately. Just goes to show there's no telling what's out there. We're continually discovering even new things here on our own planet, just imagine all the weird stuff going on out there.

I wonder if this 'ribbon' of material is in line with the galactic plane or the "Dark Rift." I also wonder if this is a new formation, a reaction to some energy in-flux, or it was there all along and we just overlooked it.

Another interesting thing is that the Mayans told of a 'serpant rope' that would emerge from the center of the galaxy bringing forth a god of enlightenment...maybe connected in some way?

How is this not getting more attention? This could be potentially huge, seeing how its in our neighborhood. Literally.

Looking forward to reading more about this I am.

[edit on 15-10-2009 by took24]

changes are getting speed , this is amazing

The ribbon is from a bow, some alien has just bought his wife a present.

It was either our solar system or a giant toblerone

reply to post by Evasius


Yeah, man. We're discovering things at an exponential rate. It's only a matter of time until we find Earthlike planets, for instance (go Kepler!)

I think Kepler is gonna blow the roof off of our current paradigm!

But yeah, this ribbon at the end of the Solar System is just the tip of the ice-burg. I love hearing about stuff like this!

Bet that boundary is where the heliosphere ends, and dark matter begins... Very interesting.. think of Dark matter as a 'glue' that things can 'lock' into... like planetary systems. the Heliosphere would kinda be like our solar systems atmosphere. (or vacuum as it were).

Ideas.. Ideas...

Hmmm... Filamentary structure spiting neutral particles once charged in thin streams, aligned perpendicular to the intergalactic magnetic field?
Looks like more indications of the electric sun model.

What if?

What if our entire Existence; Solar System, Galaxy, Universe and beyond were all particles in a sealed beacon, floating around in a vacuum on some lab desk, or a kids "pet project"...

Just a thought...


[edit on 10/16/2009 by IonDrive]

reply to post by took24


I don't know why society has lost its zest for space interest. Though I do think that is gearing up again a little. I think landing on the moon (whether you believe it or not) is was so anti-climatic that space interest has been hard to gear up again.

but if we keep finding cool stuff like this, maybe kids will start taking an interest.


I know that I would LOVE to buy a telescope for our family. But they are way too expensive.

Originally posted by nixie_nox
reply to post by took24

 

I don't know why society has lost its zest for space interest.

Because we know NASA is keeping most of its knowledge back from the public while also trying to cover up important truths about the solar system and its visitors?

But if you want to get your space information from a government agency who's primary interest is in keeping information secret, be my guest.



[edit on 16-10-2009 by Copernicus]

reply to post by Copernicus


Must agree with Copernicus here, we are not told the whole truth (at least most of the time)

Although I will always remain very much interested in what happens 'out there', be it within our System or outside our Galaxy, I often get slightly frustrated with first receiving really interesting news (like what's discussed here) and then either having to wait years for a follow-up or possibly never hearing anything about it again.

Good stuff though, thanks for sharing!!

i read recently about some scientist who claims that planet x has already come and gone but it was somehow retracted away from our gravitational pull, as if someone or something had pushed it away from entering our back yard. he also said how earth is always being "saved" from alot of event happening in our sky, like meteors hitting earth. its almost as if he was implying someone keeps saving us from disasters.

well we all know aliens are constantly watching/protecting us so maybe this "ribbon" is one of their latest creations? to save us from something?

Originally posted by nixie_nox
reply to post by took24

 

I don't know why society has lost its zest for space interest.

Because 'space' is just a freakin' shadow; an illusion observed due to our (programmed) distorted perception.
You won't find THE reality out there. It's just like thinking that a shadow\projection of a dog is the real dog.
Get out of the box, people. Point your attention to the Space within.

reply to post by Evasius

I wonder if this 'ribbon' of material is in line with the galactic plane or the "Dark Rift." I also wonder if this is a new formation, a reaction to some energy in-flux, or it was there all along and we just overlooked it.

I was wondering if this was new as well. Same about the newly discovered ring of Saturn. NASA says it never noticed the ring because they didn't think to ever look at Saturn in the infra-red, but somehow I find that hard to believe.

Check out this presentation by David Wilcock. He provides lots of data showing the big changes happening over the past few years in our solar system. Every planet has shown significant changes.

David Wilcock: Awake and Aware

Another interesting thing is that the Mayans told of a 'serpant rope' that would emerge from the center of the galaxy bringing forth a god of enlightenment...maybe connected in some way?

Yes the serpent rope. Exactly what I thought when I first read this story yesterday.

reply to post by optigon


Where is it, in this 2 hour film that he explains the changes going on in the solar system*. I really don’t want to watch 2 hours of david wilcock

[edit on 16-10-2009 by Maddogkull]

after reading, my first thought is some kind of solar system aurora borealis...

at the same time, onve voyager i&2 can turn around and see the other side, the ribbon probably says 'Welcome to SOL, pop 1x10^4532

reply to post by Maddogkull

Where is it, in this 2 hour film that he explains the changes going on in the solar system*. I really don’t want to watch 2 hours of david wilcock

I hear ya. I think most of the solar system stuff starts at about 1:45

Originally posted by IonDrive
What if?

What if our entire Existence; Solar System, Galaxy, Universe and beyond were all particles in a sealed beacon, floating around in a vacuum on some lab desk, or a kids "pet project"...

Just a thought...


[edit on 10/16/2009 by IonDrive]

OMG... what IF!??

what if god was one of us?

-rrr