This is guaranteed to warm you on a cold winter day: We actually live inside the sun.
According to astronomer Larry Sessions (earthsky.org/space/ten-things-you-may-not-know-about-the-solar-system) the earth lies within the heliosphere, the sun's outer atmosphere. The heliosphere---teardrop in shape---reaches beyond the edges of the solar system. It extends for 100 Astronomical Units (A.U.), almost 10 billion miles. Think of the solar flares that are most active every 11 years. Or the Northern and Southern Lights---the aurora borealis and aurora australis.
Yes, we're down solar wind. And we don't even feel the myriads of neutrinos passing right through us. Astonishing. And all part of our solar nexus.
Filed under: science
Tags: EarthSky.com, Larry Sessions
