First Detailed Maps Reveal Sun's Shifting Solar Wind Escape Boundary

• Scientists created the first detailed maps of the sun's outer atmosphere, tracking the Alfvén surface.
• This boundary is where solar wind breaks free from the sun's magnetic influence.
• The research, published in The Astrophysical Journal Letters, used data from NASA’s Parker Solar Probe and other spacecraft.
• The maps show the Alfvén surface becomes larger and more jagged during increased solar activity.
• Understanding this boundary is crucial for improving space weather forecasts and protecting Earth's infrastructure.

Why It Matters: New maps of the sun's boundary improve space weather forecasts, protecting Earth.