Solar System Has a Tail, Just Like a Comet

http://interestingengineering.com/solar-system-has-a-tail-just-like-a-comet/

by kschua • 13 years ago

43 8 13 years ago

interestingengineering.com

mtgx• 13 years ago

If we're being spun by the super blackhole in the middle of the galaxy, then it kind of makes sense to have one.

jemka• 13 years ago

If we're being spun by the super blackhole in the middle of the galaxy, then it kind of makes sense to have one.

These 'tails' are not created by centrifugal forces, so the fact that solar system rotates around the center of the galaxy doesn't explain the tail.

zspade• 13 years ago

Wouldn't it though, at least to a degree. If the solar system were moving through absolutely empty space there would be no external gravitational forces causing the exterior 'drag' resulting in a tail.

archangel_one• 13 years ago

But wouldn't you expect these particles that we're moving through to be being spun by that black hole as well?

qrybam• 13 years ago

I love hearing about new findings like this. Blows my mind how much there is to learn/discover every single time something like this comes out.

ihsw• 13 years ago

Planets also have 'tails' in that sense as well.

Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bow_Shock

Also, here is the original NASA.gov article that the article is quoting:

http://www.nasa.gov/content/nasa-s-ibex-provides-first-view-...

leke• 13 years ago

Reminds me of: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0jHsq36_NTU

wfn• 13 years ago

While this is a nice video, it rests on a model that is not completely true to the point that the video which stands upon it is actually misleading. I refer you to the fine Bad Astronomy blog:

http://www.slate.com/blogs/bad_astronomy/2013/03/04/vortex_m...

It is, of course, an interesting general perspective nonetheless.

Solar System Has a Tail, Just Like a Comet

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