When we look at a starry night sky, we are looking out through vast invisible expanses of our own Solar System. The planets, appearing as bright specks, have been revealed as worlds by space missions. However, the invisible spaces between them are equally interesting. Unseen forces, such as the effect of gravity, spiraling magnetic fields, and subatomic particles, originate from the Sun. Celestial bodies too small to see form unexpected patterns, while atoms and nuclei are hidden even if in our own bodies. Weaving the history of discovery with clear explanations, Invisible Solar System pulls back the cloak of invisibility under which myriad aspects of the local region of space are connected.
Features:
- Gravity, originally seen as an invisible force, is now revealed as a curvature of spacetime, and, even in its simple form, enables amazing patterns to form
- The smallest particles have other structures that enable them to interact, powering the present Solar System while also giving clues to nuclear events past and present
- Long-range forces of electricity and magnetism connect the Sun and planets, dominating the hot plasma gas of space while protecting us from cosmic rays via multiple layers of magnetic shields
