Abstract
PHOTOMETRIC observations can be used to measure the velocity of the Solar System through an interstellar medium and also provide an accurate method of measuring the temperature of that medium, provided that a very narrow filter is used in order to determine the emission linewidth. We present here the results obtained using a hydrogen absorption cell in conjunction with a Lyman-α photometer contained in the Soviet scientific spacecraft Prognoz-5 which was launched in November 1976. We use only the Lα results to measure the temperature of the interplanetary–interstellar hydrogen. The high result we obtained indicates that the Solar System may be moving through an intercloud medium heated by cosmic- or soft X-rays.
This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution
Access options
Subscribe to this journal
Receive 51 print issues and online access
$199.00 per year
only $3.90 per issue
Buy this article
- Purchase on Springer Link
- Instant access to full article PDF
Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Bertaux, J. L. & Blamont, J. E. Astr. Astrophys. 11, 200 (1971).
Thomas, G. E. & Krassa, R. F. Astr. Astrophys. 11, 218 (1971).
Weller, C. S. & Meier, R. R. Astrophys. J. 193, 471 (1974).
Bertaux, J. L., Ammar, A. & Blamont, J. E. Space Research 12, 1569 (Akademie- Verlag, Berlin, 1972).
Thomas, G. E. The Solar Wind (eds Sonnett, Coleman & Wilcox) 668 (NASA SP-308 1972).
Adams, T. F. & Frisch, P. C. Astrophys. J. 212, 300 (1977).
Bertaux, J. L. et al. Astr. Astrophys. 46, 19 (1976).
Field, G. B., Goldsmith, D. W. & Habing, H. J. Astrophys. J. 155, L 149 (1969).
Silk, J. & Werner, M. Astrophys, J. 158, 185 (1971).
Dalgarno, A. & Mc Cray, R. A. A. Rev. Astr. Astrophys. 10, 375 (1972).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
BERTAUX, J., BLAMONT, J., MIRONOVA, E. et al. Temperature measurement of interplanetary–interstellar hydrogen. Nature 270, 156–158 (1977). https://doi.org/10.1038/270156a0
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/270156a0
This article is cited by
-
Backscattered Solar Lyman-$\alpha $ Emission as a Tool for the Heliospheric Boundary Exploration
Space Science Reviews (2022)
-
The Cassini Ultraviolet Imaging Spectrograph Investigation
Space Science Reviews (2004)
-
UV studies and the solar wind
Space Science Reviews (1996)
-
SWAN: A study of Solar Wind Anisotropies on SOHO with Lyman alpha sky mapping
Solar Physics (1995)
Comments
By submitting a comment you agree to abide by our Terms and Community Guidelines. If you find something abusive or that does not comply with our terms or guidelines please flag it as inappropriate.