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To: cripplecreek

To be that far out is an acomplishment to be sure but its got a very long way to go before it actually leaves the solar system.

To technically leave the solar system it will need to be outside the sun’s influence beyond the most distance orbiting objects. It shouldn’t take but another 26,000 years or so. Its still inside the closest orbit of Sedna.


They believe Sedna may be a member of the Oort Cloud, and the Oort cloud extends over two light years from the sun. If two light years from the sun isn’t interstellar space, then there is no such thing as interstellar space. I doubt you will find many who believe two light years from the sun isn’t interstellar space, and that our Solar System extends over two light years.


26 posted on 09/16/2013 6:51:48 AM PDT by chessplayer
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To: chessplayer

Two light years? Really, I’ve never read that 50k to 100k AUs is what I have read, with most folk favoring the 50k AU figure. 50k AU = 1/2 light year.


27 posted on 09/16/2013 7:03:17 AM PDT by jpsb (Believe nothing until it has been officially denied)
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To: chessplayer

Its a subjective call kinda like the Pluto decision. I personally consider anything to be under the gravitational influence of our sun to be in the solar system.

Voyager is outside the heliosheath of Sol but that’s only one of at least 3 different camps of scientific thought. Another is the group that considers the solar system to include the kuiper belt objects. I consider myself in the 3rd camp that puts the solar system at Ort cloud or long period comet size.

http://curious.astro.cornell.edu/question.php?number=374


28 posted on 09/16/2013 7:35:00 AM PDT by cripplecreek (REMEMBER THE RIVER RAISIN!)
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