A team of NASA researchers has uncovered new data showing that the sun is moving more slowly through our galaxy than previously believed -- a discovery that suggests a shock wave believed to precede the heliosphere might not actually exist.

ESA has awarded the contract to build its next-generation Sun explorer to Astrium UK. Solar Orbiter will investigate how the Sun creates and controls the heliosphere, the extended atmosphere of the Sun.

Researchers announced the finding at a press conference on Jan. 31, 2012. It’s based on data from NASA’s IBEX spacecraft, which is able to sample material flowing into the solar system from interstellar space.

Researchers, uding NASA's Interstellar Boundary Explorer (IBEX) spacecraft, have measured neutral "alien" particles that have entered our solar system from interstellar space.

WASHINGTON, Jan.