Solar System Spiral Vortex Cross-Section in Motion - 09-02-2023
1. The Solar System's Movement in the Milky Way:
The Sun, along with the entire solar system and many other stars, orbits around the center of the Milky Way galaxy. Our galaxy is a barred spiral galaxy, and our solar system is located in one of its spiral arms, specifically the Orion Arm. The Sun orbits the galactic center at an average distance of about 27,000 light-years and at a speed of approximately 220 kilometers per second (km/s). It takes the Sun roughly 225-250 million years to complete one orbit around the Milky Way.
2. The Sun's Vortex and the "Tail":
As the Sun moves through the interstellar medium (the sparse matter that exists in the space between stars in a galaxy), it creates a sort of "wind" known as the solar wind. This solar wind is a stream of charged particles (mostly electrons and protons) that emanate from the Sun and move outward in all directions.
The solar wind interacts with the interstellar medium, creating a boundary known as the heliopause. Inside this boundary, the solar wind is dominant, while outside, the interstellar medium takes over.
Due to the Sun's motion through the galaxy, there's a sort of "pressure" from the interstellar medium on the heliopause, causing it to be somewhat comet-shaped. The side facing the direction of the Sun's motion is compressed, while the opposite side is stretched out, resembling the tail of a comet. This "tail" is filled with a mix of solar wind particles, interstellar particles, dust, and debris.
3. Distances from the Sun:
Traditionally, when we think of the solar system, we imagine concentric circles with planets orbiting the Sun. This is a simplified model, and while it's useful for understanding the relative positions and motions of the planets, it doesn't capture the full dynamics of the solar system's movement through space.
Given the Sun's motion and the aforementioned "tail," one could conceptualize the distances from the Sun not just as concentric circles around it, but also as distances trailing behind it. In this perspective, planets and other objects in the solar system are not just orbiting the Sun; they are also following it as it moves through the Milky Way, much like debris in the tail of a comet.
Conclusion:
The solar system's movement within the Milky Way and its interaction with the interstellar medium paints a dynamic picture of our place in the galaxy. Rather than a static system with planets simply orbiting the Sun, we're part of a constantly moving and interacting system, with the Sun leading the way and the rest of the solar system trailing behind in a vast, comet-like tail.