PV Gap

Kay Said:

Russian geophysicists are saying our solar system is moving into an interstellar energy cloud.?

We Answered:

We entered what is known as the Local Interstellar Cloud about 100,000 years ago. We will exit it in about 15,000 years. The temp of the cloud is 6,000 C.

No effects have been nor will be felt on our Solar System. This is due to the solar wind and the Sun's magnetic field. Together they create a protective bubble which surrounds our Solar System and separates it from interstellar space. It is called the heliosphere.

Isaac Said:

Is there energy loss in the movement of planets in our solar system?

We Answered:

of course there is, as stated in a briefer history of time Steven Hawking described this energy loss from Earth's orbit around the sun to equate to the power to run a toaster in so many billions of years. This is not entirely due to dust molecules in space but also because of the Earth travelling through a gravitational field which would produce gravitational waves through space.

Kelly Said:

From an energy stand point, can we realistically leave our Solar System?

We Answered:

We do have the means to send a person in space and to send satellites beyond the edge of our solar system. But as of yet I don't think it's possible to keep someone alive AND sane for all those years. or sending more than a handful of people into space (if mankind has to leave the earth for whatever reason).

And if you're talking about accelerating spaceships to the speed of light, I don't think we'll ever have the energy for that, not even with cold-fusion energy. And getting a signal back to earth would be almost impossible if you're traveling at the speed of light (According to Einstein's relativity theory, time will progress differently for people nearing the speed of light, which means if you send a message 10 years after departing, it'd be like 100 later years on earth)