Kepler
When Kepler established the first theory and three principles of our solar system he could describe the movement of the planets around the sun but he could not explain why these planets would not vanish in the void around the solar system. He assumed magnetic fields to be the tether to hold our planets in place.
Newton
No evidence was found for these super magentic fields between the sun the planets. Later Newton used his gravity concept to explain the movement of the planets. And this was quite successful. Yet the movement of Mercury could not be explained completly with the gravity concept of Newton.
Einstein
It was Einstein’s Relativity Theory that could well explain the movement of mercury.
What They Did Not Know
But what they did not know at that time: The solar system has a boundary – the IBEX Ribbon. There is a clear distinction between the solar system (heliosphere) and the interstellar space. It is the heliospheric boundary layer (HBL) with decreased plasma density and draped magnetic field.
The Interstellar Boundary Explorer (IBEX) discovered the IBEX Ribbon, a structure beyond the heliopause in the very local interstellar medium (VLISM). This Ribbon was unexpected and not predicted by any prior theory or model.
“The interstellar medium (ISM) of our Galaxy is magnetized, compressible and turbulent, influencing many key ISM properties, such as star formation, cosmic-ray transport, and metal and phase mixing.” Reference: The spectrum of magnetized turbulence in the interstellar medium
Would they have reconsidered their theory if they would have had this knowledge by then?
Solar System
“Our solar system is located between the Perseus and Carina-Sagittarius spiral arms of the Galaxy at the inner edge of the Orion Spur, some 28,000 light years from the galactic center”
Reviews of Geophysics – 2013 – McComas – IBEX s Enigmatic Ribbon in the sky and its many possible sources
IBEX Ribbon
The IBEX Ribbon is a fascinating and unexpected discovery made by NASA’s Interstellar Boundary Explorer (IBEX) spacecraft in 2009. It is a bright, arc-like feature observed in the first all-sky map of energetic neutral atoms (ENAs) beyond our solar system. The ribbon is located near the heliopause, where the Sun’s influence gives way to incoming interstellar particles. The name was suggested in 2009 by Christina Prested, then a graduate student at Boston University.
Key characteristics of the IBEX Ribbon:
- Density: The ribbon is three to six times denser than expected, consisting of fast-moving ENAs coming towards Earth.
- Location: It is situated at the edge of our solar system, near the boundary between the heliosphere and interstellar space.
- Formation time: The process that creates the ribbon particles takes approximately 3-6 years.
Theories about the IBEX Ribbon’s origin:
- Solar wind interaction: Many scientists believe the ribbon results from solar wind particles encountering the galaxy’s magnetic field, which reflects them back towards us.
- Reflected solar material: One prominent theory proposes that the ribbon particles are actually solar material reflected back after a long journey to the edges of the Sun’s magnetic boundaries.
Significance of the IBEX Ribbon:
- Interstellar magnetic field: The ribbon provides information about the strength and direction of the magnetic field outside the heliosphere, offering insights into our galactic neighborhood.
- Heliosphere interaction: It helps scientists understand how our space environment interacts with the interstellar environment beyond the heliopause.
Ongoing research:
Scientists continue to study the IBEX Ribbon, developing more sophisticated models and analyzing its evolution over time. The ribbon exhibits gradual and continuous changes, and researchers are working to better understand its structure and origins.
References:
https://www.astronomy.com/observing/weird-object-the-ibex-ribbon/
https://www.nasa.gov/missions/ibex/nasas-ibex-observations-pin-down-interstellar-magnetic-field/
https://agupubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/2013RG000438