News in Brief Astronomy

The solar system has a tail

Clover-shaped clumps of charged particles extend billions of kilometers

The solar system trails a stream of charged particles, as  shown in an illustration. 

NASA Goddard Space Flight Center

By Andrew Grant

- More than 2 years ago

The solar system drags along a lengthy, twisted tail as it moves through the galaxy, researchers announced July 10 in a press conference and in the Astrophysical Journal.