Cosmic ‘Superhighways’ for Fast Travel Through the Solar System was Discovered

Invisible structures generated by gravitational interactions in the Solar System have created a network of “space superhighways,” astronomers have discovered. These channels allow fast travel of objects in space and can be used for the purpose of human space exploration and research of comets and asteroids.

Applying analyzes to both observations and simulation data, a team of researchers led by Nataša Todorović of the Belgrade Astronomical Observatory in Serbia noticed that these superhighways consisted of a series of connected arches in these invisible structures called cosmic collectors – and each planet generates its own collectors, creating together what researchers call “a true celestial autobahn.”

 

This is a map of the superhighway structures surrounding Jupiter – concentrated on highly chaotic structure within the arches

This network can transport objects from Jupiter to Neptune in a matter of decades, rather than much longer periods of the order of hundreds of thousands to millions of years, which are usually calculated for the solar system.

Finding hidden structures in space is not always easy, but looking at the way things are moving can provide useful clues – especially comets and asteroids.

Scientists say they have analyzed data from “millions of orbits in the solar system” to find their interaction. The benefits of such an analysis will be not only for the possible acceleration of space travel. Studying these processes can also help move and even control comets and asteroids that could be dangerous to Earth.