The solar system has a tail shaped like a four-leaf clover
In short: NASA's Interstellar Boundary Explorer (IBEX) mission has revealed a previously unseen structure: the heliotail. This video explains how our solar system behaves like a comet as it moves through interstellar space.
The heliotail is a massive structure formed by the interaction between the solar wind and the interstellar medium. Data from the IBEX mission, which has been monitoring these interactions since its 2008 launch, shows that this tail is shaped remarkably like a four-leaf clover.
By mapping the outermost boundary of the heliosphere—the region of space dominated by our sun—scientists can better understand how our solar system interacts with the surrounding galactic environment.
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- Summary by Intellect · source: Solar System's Tail discussed During Online Media Briefing
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