Strange Forces !

[Mike]

Did anyone read the article in this weeks New Scientist about the strange force that has pulled the Pioneer 10 and 11 probes into a strange trajectory and into a part of space they shouldn't be ?

There is talk about a wierd force that has an effect on small bodies but large bodies like planets just 'cut' through it ! Have a read of it if you can it's very interesting.

[Whitters]

Mike is that this weeks NS?

[Sue]

I've just been to the New Scientist web site and the item is the cover story for this week, July 20th. Can't read it yet on the net!

[Ian]

this story was in last months Astronomy Now I think. Isn't it that the Pioneers appear to be decelerating at a rate that is higher than that predicted by current physics?

[Mike]

Yes they are around 400,000 miles closer to the sun than predicted mathematically. Therefore, some kind of force is acting on the craft. They have ruled out heat dissipation from the reactor units, leaks, etc. so the force is coming from outside the craft !!!