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heliopause

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heliopause

Boundary between the heliosphere—the teardrop-shaped region around the Sun created by the solar wind and filled with solar magnetic fields and outward-moving gas—and the zone of transition to the interstellar medium. Its tail is estimated to reach 110–170 astronomical units from the Sun, encompassing the orbits of all the major planets. Its shape changes, influenced by a wind of interstellar gas produced by the Sun's motion through it.

heliopause [′hē·lē·ə‚pȯz]
(astronomy)
A shock front about 50 astronomical units from the sun, where the thermal pressure of the interstellar gas which surrounds the solar system overcomes the pressure of the solar wind, which is mostly ram pressure due to its high-velocity flow.
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In 2007 Voyager 2 reached the heliosheath -- the area where the termination shock begins -- and on its current path and speed should reach the heliopause in 2010.
NASA to launch probe to study edge of solar system by AFP / AFP American Edition
In 2007 Voyager 2 reached the heliosheath -- the area where the termination shock begins -- and on its current path and speed should reach the heliopause in 2010.
NASA to launch probe to study edge of solar system by AFP / AFP Global Edition
The craft will be able to study the heliopause - where the Sun's influence ends - and could even reveal the path the Solar System takes through the galaxy.
NASA probe's 20billion mile trip by Daily Record (Glasgow, Scotland)
 
 
 
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