旅行者1号探测太阳系最后疆界

标签:
杂谈 |
分类: 科学与技术 |
http://photos.state.gov/libraries/amgov/3234/Week_4/06272013_pia17033-640-600.jpg
根据距太阳180亿公里的“旅行者1号”(Voyager 1)搜集的数据,该航天器已更接近太阳系边界,将成为进入星际空间的第一个人造物体。
根据距太阳180亿公里的“旅行者1号”(Voyager 1)搜集的数据,该航天器已更接近太阳系边界,将成为进入星际空间的第一个人造物体。
刊登在6月27日出版的《科学》(Science)杂志上的利用“旅行者1号”的数据所进行的研究,对该航天器在离开日光层(heliosphere)——或称环绕太阳的大泡——并进入星际空间之前将要穿越的最后区域提供了新的细节。有三篇论文描述了“旅行者1号” 如何进入一个被称为“磁性高速公路”的区域,同时观测到来自日光层以外的带电粒子达到迄今最高的速度以及来自日光层内部的带电粒子消失的情形。
上图是一幅艺术家构思的图景,展现了“旅行者1号”及其姊妹星“旅行者2号”接近星际空间时的景象。
科学家们已经看到了预料在抵达星际空间时将会看到的三个迹象中的两个:带电粒子临近太阳磁场边界,数量逐渐下降直至消失,而来自远方的外界宇宙射线的强度增大。科学家们尚未看到第三个迹象,即磁场方向的突然改变,这一迹象将表明星际磁场的存在。
科学家们还不能确切知道“旅行者1号”究竟需要飞多远才能到达星际空间。他们估计可能还需要数月或数年时间才能到达。
如需了解有关“旅行者”系列航天器的更多信息,请查阅美国国家航空航天局新闻稿[英文](see the NASA press release)。
Read more: http://iipdigital.usembassy.gov/st/chinese/inbrief/2013/07/20130701277931.html#ixzz2XwwjEsGN
Voyager 1 Explores Final Frontier of “Solar Bubble”
http://photos.state.gov/libraries/amgov/3234/Week_4/06272013_pia17033-640-600.jpg
Data from Voyager 1, now more than 18 billion kilometers from the sun, suggest the spacecraft is closer to becoming the first human-made object to reach interstellar space.
Data from Voyager 1, now more than 18 billion kilometers from the sun, suggest the spacecraft is closer to becoming the first human-made object to reach interstellar space.
Research using Voyager 1 data and published in the journal Science June 27 provides new detail on the last region the spacecraft will cross before it leaves the heliosphere, or the bubble around the sun, and enters interstellar space. Three papers describe how Voyager 1’s entry into a region called the magnetic highway resulted in simultaneous observations of the highest rate so far of charged particles from outside the heliosphere and the disappearance of charged particles from inside the heliosphere.
The artist’s conception above shows Voyager 1 and its sibling, Voyager 2, as they approach interstellar space.
Scientists have seen two of the three signs of interstellar arrival they expected to see: charged particles disappearing as they zoom out along the solar magnetic field, and cosmic rays from far outside zooming in. Scientists have not yet seen the third sign, an abrupt change in the direction of the magnetic field, which would indicate the presence of the interstellar magnetic field.
Scientists do not know exactly how far Voyager 1 has to go to reach interstellar space. They estimate it could take several more months, or even years, to get there.
For more on the Voyagers, see the NASA press release.
Read more: http://iipdigital.usembassy.gov/st/english/inbrief/2013/06/20130628277814.html#ixzz2XwwlCKoy