Re:Solar System Has a Tail, Just Like a Comet
by zspade on Sunday July 14, 2013 @03:27PM
(#6041896)
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.
Re:Solar System Has a Tail, Just Like a Comet
by wfn on Sunday July 14, 2013 @06:58PM
(#6042598)
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:
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-...
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.
http://www.slate.com/blogs/bad_astronomy/2013/03/04/vortex_m...
It is, of course, an interesting general perspective nonetheless.