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Chapter 18: Problem 47

In recent years astronomers have been able to learn about the character of the interstellar medium in the vicinity of the Sun. Search the World Wide Web for information about aspects of the nearby interstellar medium, including features called the Local Interstellar Cloud and the Local Bubble. How do astronomers study the nearby interstellar medium? What makes these studies difficult? Is the interstellar medium relatively uniform in our neighborhood, or is it clumpy? If the latter, is our solar system in a relatively thin or thick part of the interstellar medium? How is our solar system moving through the interstellar medium?

Short Answer

Expert verified
Detailed answers for these specific questions rely on the received data after researching. This research can be approached step-by-step: gather information about the interstellar medium, then understand how astronomers study it, identify their challenges, characterize this medium's properties, define our solar system's position within it, and lastly, understand how our system maneuvers through this medium.

Step by step solution

01

Research about the interstellar medium

Find comprehensive information about the Local Interstellar Cloud and the Local Bubble from reliable internet sources. Look for peer-reviewed articles, research papers, or information from prominent space research organizations.
02

Understand how astronomers study the interstellar medium

Find information about the methods and tools that astronomers commonly use to study the interstellar medium. These could include spectrometry, radio wave detection, or use of space telescopes.
03

Identify the challenges

Research and identify the challenges in studying the interstellar medium. The limitations could be due to distance, light pollution, frequency of data or other technological challenges.
04

Characterize the interstellar medium

Based on your research, determine whether the interstellar medium is uniform or clumpy. Support your finding with evidence and reasoning from your resources.
05

Identify our solar system's position

Understand and explain whether our solar system is in a thin or thick part of the interstellar medium. Justify your answer based on the data obtained.
06

Understand our solar system's movement

Investigate how our solar system is moving through the interstellar medium. Your research may include our solar system's speed, direction, and pattern of movement.

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Most popular questions from this chapter

Use the Starry Night Enthusiast \({ }^{\mathrm{TM}}\) program to investigate a star-forming region. Use the Find ... command in the Edit menu to find and center on M20 (the Trifid Nebula, shown in the figure that accompanies Question 31) as seen from your location. Zoom out as far as possible using the Zoom controls at the righthand end of the toolbar. Set the Time appropriately and adjust the Month and Day in the Date to answer the following questions. (Hint: You may want to remove daylight and display the local meridian to provide precise answers.) (a) On what day is M20 highest in the sky at noon? Explain how you determined this. (b) On what day is M20 highest in the sky at midnight, so that it is best placed for observing with a telescope? Explain how you determined this.

In the direction of a particular star cluster, interstellar extinction allows only \(15 \%\) of a star's light to pass through each kiloparsec \((1000 \mathrm{pc})\) of the interstellar medium. If the star cluster is \(3.0\) kiloparsecs away, what percentage of its photons survive the trip to the Earth?

In what ways is the internal structure of a \(1-\mathrm{M}_{\odot}\) mainsequence star different from that of a \(5-\mathrm{M}_{\odot}\) main- sequence star? From that of a \(0.5-\mathrm{M}_{\odot}\) main-sequence star? What features are common to all these stars?

Briefly describe four mechanisms that compress the interstellar medium and trigger star formation.

. A newly formed protostar and a red giant are both located in the same region on the H-R diagram. Explain how you could distinguish between these two.
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