Chapter 1
The illusion of the local dome
Chapter 2
Measuring the cosmic gap
Chapter 3
Our actual backyard neighbors
Chapter 4
The local bubble and beyond
YOUR GOAL
Master of Mapping our local cosmic neighborhood
Ch 4 · The local bubble and beyond
007skaty The Local Bubble
We’re floating in the middle of a cosmic bubble (yeah, a cosmic bubble) / Carved by ancient stars so long ago (so long ago)!
007skaty In 2012 and 2018, Voyager 1 and Voyager 2 crossed the heliopause, where solar wind blocks over 70%
007skaty Bright star fields and colorful nebulae border the dark cavity of the Local Bubble.
BETA
007skaty Map the paths of local stars to discover how our cozy cosmic backyard works.
Fun Fact
The Local Bubble: Our Solar System is traveling through a giant bubble of gas that is hotter than the surface of the Sun!
Glossary
local bubble (noun)
A cavity of low-density interstellar gas in the Milky Way containing our solar system. About fifteen supernovae carved this giant cavity out of the interstellar medium fourteen million years ago.
A cavity of low-density interstellar gas in the Milky Way containing our solar system. About fifteen supernovae carved this giant cavity out of the interstellar medium fourteen million years ago.
Quiz
What is the name of the magnetic shield blown by the Sun that protects us from cosmic rays?
Quiz
Which spacecraft became the first human-made objects to cross the heliopause into interstellar space?
Quiz
What cosmic events are responsible for creating the giant Local Bubble millions of years ago?
Quiz
What is the name of the warm gas cloud that our solar system is currently traveling through?
Quiz
In about 10,000 years, which star is predicted to replace Proxima Centauri as our closest neighbor?