IBEX mission results
Due to the protective shielding of dangerous galactic cosmic rays provided by a heliosphere or astrosphere, these structures are important for the planets that orbit the respective stars. only over the last 15 years have we been able to detect the first astrospheres and planets around other stars, exoplanets in the most immediate environment around the sun, our cosmic neighborhood. the locations of known astrospheres and exoplanets are indicated in the artwork. it is anticipated that many more astrospheres are present and just awaiting discovery. the nearest star alpha Centauri has an astrosphere and there are at least two cases where both an astrosphere and exoplanets have been detected. these systems are truly analogous to our system in which the heliosphere shields a diverse planetary system.
Credit: NASA/Goddard/Adler/paternostro/U. Chicago/Wesleyan
