Heliopause (Noun)
Meaning
The boundary marking the edge of the sun's influence; the boundary (roughly 100 AU from the sun) between the interplanetary medium and the interstellar medium; where the solar wind from the sun and the radiation from other stars meet.
Classification
Nouns denoting spatial position.
Examples
- The Voyager 1 spacecraft crossed the heliopause in 2012, entering the interstellar medium for the first time.
- Astronomers are eager to study the heliopause in more detail to better understand the interaction between the solar wind and the interstellar medium.
- The heliopause is not a distinct boundary but rather a gradual transition zone where the sun's influence begins to wane.
- Scientists estimate that the heliopause is roughly 100 astronomical units from the sun, although its exact location is still a topic of debate.
- As the solar wind slows down at the heliopause, it creates a region of intense magnetic activity that affects the surrounding space.