kentucky central life insurance company ( kcl ) was one of the largest life insurance companies in the united states , writing policies in 49 states and the district of columbia until its collapse in 1993 .

at the time of the collapse kentucky central had over $ 43 billion in assets , making it the seventh largest insurance collapse in united states history , and at the time the largest business collapse in kentucky history .

kentucky central insurance company

for kentucky central life & accident insurance company , anchorage , kentucky , 1935 .
home herald - post collection kentucky central life & accident insurance company , anchorage , kentucky , 1935 .
kentucky central life & accident insurance company , anchorage , kentucky , 1935 . : : herald - post collection
kentucky central life insurance company , appellant , v . don w . stephens , commissioner of the kentucky department of insurance , appellee . kentucky central life insurance company , appellant , v . don w . stephens , commissioner of the kentucky department of insurance , appellee .
but the webbs also were central figures in the dissolution of kentucky central life insurance co . in the 1990s .
the office of insurance assumed control of kentucky central in february 1993 and the company entered liquidation in 1994 .
central bank insurance agency inc is a public business and is considered small . central bank insurance agency inc is located in lexington , ky . central bank insurance agency inc is located in lexington , ky .
the kentucky department of insurance , acting as liquidator for kentucky central , had alleged professional negligence by deloitte & touche in auditing kentucky central ' s financial reports . the claim stated that the accounting firm , which had served as kentucky central ' s accountant for 23 years , allowed kentucky central directors to engage in reckless practices that ran the company into the ground .
the owners of kentucky central life insurance co . ' s voting stock are planning to elect a new board o
r . glenn jennings , deputy liquidator , on behalf of martin j . koetters , executive director , office of insurance , and as liquidator of kentucky central life insurance company
more than $ 40 million has been released to former agents and other creditors by the kentucky central life insurance company estate . the distribution on august 11 included $ 9 million in deferred compensation to about 650 former kentucky central agents .
in 1992 , united trust acquired universal guaranty life insurance company . today , universal guaranty holds all of the company’s insurance policies .
fletcher has been trying to link beshear to a scandal involving the kentucky central life insurance company , perhaps hoping to deflect criticsm from his own ethical problems .
find 33 listings related to central bank insurance in lexington on yp . com . see reviews , photos , directions , phone numbers and more for central bank insurance locations in lexington , ky .
the kentucky department of insurance has reached a $ 23 million settlement with deloitte & touche llp , ending a lawsuit the state brought against the accounting firm for its dealings with the now - defunct kentucky central life insurance co .
investments in property and casualty insurance , broadcasting , citrus groves and a hotel . kcl ' s subsidiaries were mid - central investment co . , inc . , bluegrass broadcasting company , inc . , wvlk radio , inc . , kentucky central television , inc . , kentucky central insurance company , kentucky national insurance company , brevard groves , inc . , m - c realty , inc . , and wilkinson hotel enterprises , inc . kcl also owned a significant amount of commercial real estate .
commonwealth of kentucky , office of insurance p . o . box 517 frankfort , ky 40602
kentucky central life insurance co . , which was based in lexington , was taken over by the state after its 1993 collapse . the department of insurance filed a number of lawsuits against parties involved with the insurer and has reclaimed about $ 227 million for policyholders , investors and shareholders of kentucky central .
universal guaranty life insurance company formed in columbus , ohio in 1966 and sold individual life insurance policies to families throughout the midwest .
former headquarters of kentucky central life insurance company in anchorage , kentucky ; a two - story building with tile roof , manicured lawn , curving driveway , and flagpole . a sign above the door reads
kentucky central life & acc . ins . co .
, and a signpost with an arrow appears to point the way to louisville .
george nichols , iii , liquidator of kentucky central life insurance company v . robert w . crabtree , fayette circuit court , civil action no . 94 - ci - 0442 and george nichols , iii , liquidator of kentucky central life insurance company v . charlie murphy & murphy real estate , inc . , fayette circuit court , civil action no . 94 - ci - 0441
r . glenn jennings , liquidator of kentucky central life insurance company v . webb properties , et al . , fayette circuit court , civil action no . 94 - ci - 00032 .
get a quote in lexington , ky . call central bank insurance at ( 859 ) 253 - 8799 today .
fredrick l . angst v . kentucky central life insurance company , et al . , united states district court , civil action no . 93 - 152 ( e . d . ky . ) .
the domiciliary state is the state in which an insurance company is incorporated or organized .
to determine if a company uses credit information for private passenger automobile or homeowners insurance .
• $ 1 . 9 million to sterling property recovery company , as assignee for lincoln national life insurance company , to cover kentucky central’s responsibility for an office building mortgage . • $ 1 . 1 million to 50 other unsecured creditors .
if you are not currently a central policyholder but are interested in learning more about central and our products , we encourage you to find a central agent in your area using the find an agent link .
brian luftman stands on property his company american farm investors manages in harrodsburg , kentucky .
• $ 9 . 9 million to bondholders for the lexington festival market development . kentucky central guaranteed the bonds , and when the project failed , the bonds went into default . with the exception of interest , today’s payment fulfills kentucky central’s liability .
my parents also took out a kentucky central life insurance policy of $ 500 on me that was paid off on 4 / 18 / 1977 . how can i make claim on the policy
r . glenn jennings , liquidator of kentucky central life insurance company v . mid - america bank of louisville and trust company , d / b / a bank of louisville and trust company , franklin circuit court , civil action no . 93 - ci - 001967 - ap - 011 .
located in lexington , ky . , central bank & trust company offers commercial and retail banking , insurance , brokerage and trust services and products through more than 10 branches .
george nichols iii , liquidator of kentucky central life insurance company v . edwin f . schaeffer , jr . , et al . , franklin circuit court , civil action no . 93 - ci - 00196 - ap - 002 .
in re kentucky central life insurance company , don w . stephens , in his capacity as liquidator v . wallace and martha wilkinson , franklin circuit court , civil action no . 93 - ci - 00196 - ap - 003 .
5 . cash - as of december 31 , 2003 , kentucky central had cash on deposit in banks of $ 591 , 634 .
kentucky central life insurance company v . bond management , inc . ; bruce e . burnett , barbara e . burnett , jordan plating , inc . , farmers bank and capital trust company , commonwealth of kentucky and new farmers national bank of glasgow , fayette circuit court , civil action no . 93 - ci - 1066 .
the webbs have filed a motion in liquidator of kentucky central life insurance company v . kentucky central life insurance company , franklin circuit court , civil action no . 93 - ci - 00196 , to lift the stay to permit them to file a lawsuit against the liquidator for alleged wrongful use of civil proceedings arising out of the liquidator ' s actions in count i of the guaranty case ( liquidator of kentucky central life insurance company v . r . dudley webb , et al . , franklin circuit court , civil action no . 94 - ci - 017 - ap - 12 ) and the bank of louisville case ( liquidator of kentucky central life insurance company v . mid - america bank of louisville and trust company , d / b / a bank of louisville and trust company , et al . , franklin circuit court , civil action no . 93 - ci - 001967 - ap - 11 ) . the liquidator is opposing the motion and believes there to be no merit to the underlying allegations .
the charge focuses on beshear ' s work for a law firm which represented kentucky central , a company that was forced to let go of 800 employees when it underwent liquidation .
2 . basis of presentation - the accompanying financial statements of kentucky central life insurance company in liquidation are unaudited . the financial statements are presented generally in a format established by the national association of insurance commissioners (
naic
) report on receiverships . the balance sheet has been prepared on a liquidating basis .
in this insurance liquidation proceeding , the franklin circuit court approved the sale of kentucky central life insurance company ' s ( kcl ) assets , including the company ' s insurance business , and ordered kcl ' s liquidation . the current board of directors of kcl seeks reversal and remand upon the basis that the decision failed to comply with the kentucky insurer ' s rehabilitation and liquidation laws and was made in contravention of the constitutional rights of kcl and its shareholders . [ 1 ]
an naic number is a five - digit number assigned to every insurance company by the naic ( national association of insurance commissioners ) . because each company has its own unique number , the naic number can be used to identify a particular company .
• $ 16 . 5 million to state guaranty associations for support to the accounts of former kentucky central policyholders during a portion of the liquidation .
report a claim request insurance card get an insurance quote at heritage insurance , we are committed to providing the best service and overall satisfaction to our clients . we serve lexington , ky and surrounding counties .
r . glenn jennings , liquidator of kentucky central life insurance company v . r . dudley webb , donald w . webb , and julie h . webb , franklin circuit court , civil action no . 94 - ci - 00017 - ap - 012
naic consumer alert : combining your insurance : just got engaged ? don ' t forget to talk about insurance . [ pdf - 122k ]
• $ 2 . 1 million to lexington - fayette urban county government to fulfill kentucky central’s joint and several liability agreement for the festival market project .
if you are interested in becoming a central agent , please contact our marketing department .
george nichols iii , in his capacity as liquidator of kentucky central life insurance company , mid - central investments , inc . and m . c . realty , inc . v . wallace wilkinson , wallace ' s bookstores and wilkinson enterprises , inc . , franklin circuit court , civil action no . 93 - ci - 196 - ap - 005 .
new york & kentucky oil & mining company ( cumberland valley , kentucky ) - new york 1865 normal price : $ 295 . 00 our sales price : $ 250 . 00
is this the same dudley webb that was involved in the kentucky central insurance collapse , or better know as
the kentucky enron ,
i believe that dudley webb was from letcher county and is involved in
centrepointe
project - or are you just
pulling my leg .
what is the name of the construction company ?
pursuant to krs 304 . 33 - 240 and in preparation for seeking a final order closing this matter , julie mix mcpeak , as liquidator of kentucky central life insurance company ( hereinafter
liquidator
) , hereby respectfully submits the unaudited financial statements of kentucky central life insurance company in liquidation ( hereinafter
kcl
or the
company
) as of december 31 , 2006 , prepared on a liquidating basis , and this twenty - eighth and comprehensive report to the court concerning the activities and transactions of the company from the date of the order of rehabilitation entered on february 12 , 1993 , to the present .
fred burns v . george nichols , iii , in his capacity as liquidator of kentucky central life insurance co . and banker ' s trust co . , fayette circuit court , civil action no . 95 - ci - 1328 .
my father has a paid up life insurance policy from alexander hamilton life insurance company which was acquired by jefferson - pilot . how can i get in touch with them about a beneficiary change ?
american bankers best bank to work for 2016 . lexington . the horse capital of the world , home to the university of kentucky and the birthplace of central bank .
mcpeak said the estate is taking steps to prepare and finalize the reimbursement to jefferson - pilot life insurance company for amounts owed to former policyholders of kentucky central for items such as additional expense charges and lower crediting rates on their account balances . the reimbursement will have the effect of making the policyholders whole for the limitations placed on the policies when kentucky central was placed in rehabilitation and for the five years subsequent to the transfer of the policies to jefferson - pilot .
all policyholder inquiries should be made to price huston in the consumer protection and education division of the kentucky department of insurance at 502 . 564 . 6034 .
advertisement for the jefferson standard life insurance company in turner ' s north carolina almanac . raleigh , n . c . : times publishing company , 1917 . p 2 .
ocean steamship company of savannah ( issued to the central rail road and banking company of georgia ) - georgia 1882 normal price : $ 495 . 00 our sales price : $ 395 . 00
“we were particularly pleased to be in a position to make the deferred compensation distribution , ” said julie mix mcpeak , kentucky office of insurance executive director and kentucky central liquidator . “under statute , these payments could not be made until other issues had been resolved , so we are very happy to have reached this point in the liquidation . ”
central bank and trust co . , as trustee and executor v . mid - central investment co . , inc . , franklin circuit court , division i , no . 97 - ci - 1063 .
certificate of authority cancelled in texas due to liquidation in home state of kentucky .
but yates said louisville occupies a similar positon in kentucky as atlanta in georgia .
kentucky fuel company 1890 - classic little girl vignette normal price : $ 249 . 95 our sales price : $ 199 . 95
mr . webb also served on numerous civic boards , among them the kentucky economic development corp . , the central kentucky blood center , the kentucky horse park commission and fund for the arts . he was the primary founder of the lexington trolley company and the downtown lexington corp . he also served as chairman of the greater lexington chamber of commerce and as chairman of the fayette county democratic party .
car insurance is designed to help provide protection against damage , injury and liability arising from a collision . you want to ensure that you have enough coverage to protect yourself against comprehensive damage and disability , but not take on more auto insurance than you can comfortably afford . that’s where we come in . as an independent insurance agency , heritage insurance has the ability to offer you the best car insurance products at the most competitive premiums .
new york central railroad company $ 864 , 000 bond - united states 1913 normal price : $ 189 . 95 our sales price : $ 149 . 95
new york central railroad company uncancelled $ 1000 gold bond - new york 1913 normal price : $ 250 . 00 our sales price : $ 195 . 00
burksville kentucky oil and mining company - new york 1865 normal price : $ 295 . 00 our sales price : $ 250 . 00
ohio edison electric installation company - incorporated in kentucky 1883 normal price : $ 995 . 00 our sales price : $ 895 . 00
baltimore insurance company rare - maryland 1797 normal price : $ 1 , 695 . 00 our sales price : $ 1 , 395 . 00
a community bank serving central and western kentucky , with branches in 11 counties : caldwell , fayette , garrard , lincoln , logan , jessamine , madison , muhlenberg , pulaski , wayne and warren .
copyright © 2018 heritage insurance agency all rights reserved · for more information call 859 - 219 - 1122 · email us licensed in kentucky , ohio , tennessee , indiana and florida .
in addition to our home office in van wert , ohio , central operates four full - service regional offices .
new york central railroad company $ 1 , 000 , 000 bond - united states 1921 normal price : $ 189 . 95 our sales price : $ 149 . 95
© 2001 - 2018 all rights reserved . the national organization of life & health insurance guaranty associations
united trust , inc . was incorporated in springfield , illinois and through its subsidiary , united trust assurance company , sold life insurance policies in illinois .
kentucky central ins . co . v . bond management , inc . , burnett rentals no . 2 and bruce e . burnett , fayette circuit court , civil action no . 93 - ci - 1363 .
in october of 1961 , the central regional office was established in van wert , ohio , to service agents throughout the midwest . in the same year , all america insurance company was incorporated and the central regional office sold the first all america policy to golfer jack nicklaus . the region ' s oldest agency is the purmort brothers agency in van wert , ohio , appointed in 1876 .
ugi corp . unilever united states , inc . union central life insurance co . union mutual fire insurance co . union pacific corp . unisource foundation united fire and casualty co . united parcel service united states automobile association united technologies corp . unitrin , inc . universal studios u . s . bancorp . u . s . borax , inc . usg corp . ust , inc . utica national insurance group back to top
though located in the same building as the home office in van wert , ohio , the central regional office is an autonomous operation serving the states of idaho , illinois , indiana , kentucky , ohio , michigan , and utah . the office is staffed by 70 employees , led by regional vice president patrick jackson . the central region is comprised of approximately 123 agents who write around $ 145 million in premiums , 34 percent commercial insurance and 66 percent personal insurance . the average written premium per agency is $ 1 . 2 million .
loss and unearned premium claims . claims by policyholders , beneficiaries , and insureds arising from and within the coverage of and not in excess of the applicable limits of insurance policies and insurance contracts issued by the company , and liability claims against insureds which claims are within the coverage of and not in excess of the applicable limits of insurance policies and insurance contracts issued by the company , and claims of guaranty associations or foreign guaranty associations . notwithstanding the foregoing , the following claims shall be excluded from class 2 priority :
complaints against an insurance company are not part of the complaint tally above if the insurance company served only as a third party administrator ( tpa ) , a company hired simply to administer the paperwork of a health plan . instead , they are included in the complaint record of the insurance company or hmo that hired the tpa . if a bonafide self - insured benefit plan hired the tpa , no complaint numbers are recorded as a part of the company / tpa ' s profile . neither are profiles available for self - insured plans , as such plans are regulated under federal law .
2 . basis of presentation - the accompanying financial statements of kentucky central life insurance company ( in liquidation ) are unaudited . the balance sheet has been prepared on a modified liquidating basis , that is , assets have been reported at their estimated market value when known , otherwise , they are reported on the basis more particularly described herein . the financial statements are presented generally in a format established by the national association of insurance commissioners (
naic
) report on receiverships .
“he is ? ” she asked . “well , then , he’s no good for kentucky . ”
( 2 ) loss and unearned premium claims . claims by policyholders , beneficiaries , and insureds arising from and within the coverage of and not in excess of the applicable limits of insurance policies and insurance contracts issued by the company , and liability claims against insureds which claims are within the coverage of and not in excess of the applicable limits of insurance policies and insurance contracts issued by the company , and claims of guaranty associations or foreign guaranty associations . notwithstanding the foregoing , the following claims shall be excluded from class 2 priority :
confirmed complaints : the number of confirmed complaints closed against the company for the line of insurance and year indicated . a complaint is confirmed if the department receives information indicating that a company committed any violation of an applicable state insurance law or regulation , a federal requirement the department has authority to enforce or the term or condition of an insurance policy or certificate . a complaint is also confirmed if the complaint and company ' s response , considered together , suggest that the company was in error or that the complainant had a valid reason for the complaint .
franklin fire insurance company authentic stock certificate 1839 - ben franklin & early fire apparatus picture normal price : $ 129 . 95 our sales price : $ 99 . 95
heritage insurance works to deliver cost - effective workers compensation coverage , which is a state - mandated program .
we offer insurance by phone , online and through independent agents . prices vary based on how you buy .
central bank announces the promotions of david hake and erica parks june 28 , 2018 . lexington , ky – central bank chairman , president and ceo , luther deaton , jr . , has announced the promotion of david hake to vice president , technology services .
this giving spirit is a key reason that central bank is honored as one of the best places to work in kentucky on an annual basis . for more information about the bank and any of our services please call ( 859 ) 253 - 6222 , ( 800 ) 637 - 6884 or visit www . centralbank . com . central bank , member fdic .
the cvb isn’t the only organization keeping an eye on comments about kentucky from the rest of the country .
the largest requested increase was 65 . 1 percent from the golden rule insurance company , which is owned by unitedhealthcare . that company does not offer plans on the state exchange . a spokeswoman did not immediately respond to a request for comment .
folder 108 : lakeland asylum ( central state hospital ) , lakeland , ky . , ( louisville , ky . ) , 1912 - 1913
kentucky central ins . co . v . bruce e . burnett , barbara b . burnett , bond management , inc . and burnett rentals no . 2 , inc . , fayette circuit court , civil action no . 93 - ci - 1361 .
the following organizations rate insurance companies on their financial strength and stability . some of these companies charge for their services .
new york central railroad company $ 1 , 725 , 000 gold bond ( gold bond disclaimer legend stamp ) - high denomination 1938 normal price : $ 595 . 00 our sales price : $ 495 . 00
the state insurance commissioner filed suit in 1994 against the webbs to collect $ 108 . 9 million in loans they had received from kentucky central . the issue churned through the courts for years before out - of - court settlements were reached in 2005 , with donald webb settling his part of the lawsuit for $ 2 . 85 million and dudley webb for $ 4 million .
4 . order of distribution - the order of distribution from the assets of the company ' s estate is set forth at krs 304 . 33 - 430 , prior to its amendment in 2000 . by its express terms , the statute applies and governs the priority of distribution of assets in any proceeding to liquidate an insurer pending on the effective date of the statute . even if adopted by kentucky central , the changes to the statute effectuated in 2000 would have no effect on the priority of distribution of the company ' s assets . accordingly , the order of distribution of kentucky central ' s assets is governed by the statute , as amended .
the liquidator , by court order , becomes the sole owner of the company ' s assets and administers the estate of the company .
6 . kentucky corporation income tax refund claim - in august 1996 , m - c realty , inc . ( a kentucky central subsidiary ) and certain affiliates of m - c realty , inc . filed refund claims for corporate taxes paid to the commonwealth of kentucky for the 1991 - 94 tax years . the total amount of refunds sought was $ 1 , 132 , 166 . based on substantial uncertainty regarding collection of this amount , the liquidator withdrew these refund claims and asserted other refund claims for an overpayment of kentucky income taxes . the revised claim totals $ 217 , 349 at december 31 , 2006 . the liquidator is in the process of working with the kentucky department of revenue to resolve the refund claim .
but many kentucky counties only have one company offering health plans on the exchange . some counties have as many as six plans to choose from , both on and off the exchange .
details : in the final days of 2011 , the private university of pikeville announced that it was in talks to join the state university system . former gov . paul patton , the university ' s president , said state funding for pikeville would lower student tuition and raise education levels deep in the eastern kentucky mountains . stumbo , the house speaker from nearby prestonsburg , said he liked the idea . advocates say southeastern kentucky — which includes some of the poorest u . s . counties — is largely ignored by the state ' s higher education system . while the state has eastern kentucky university , it ' s paradoxically in central kentucky ' s madison county , just 27 miles south of the university of kentucky in lexington .
my husband and i took out a $ 500 . 00 kentucky central life ins . policy on our son ( darrell brooks ) in the late 1970 ' s . the policy was paid until pd . off . we never knew anythin . . . read more
kentucky is one of 13 states that operate its own health insurance exchange , a website where people can purchase discounted private insurance plans with the help of federal subsidies . republican gov . matt bevin plans to dismantle that state exchange , named kynect , by the end of this year . its plans and customers would be shifted to the federal exchange healthcare . gov .
charles s . cassis , brown , todd & heyburn , louisville , for kentucky cent . life ins . co .
united wireless telegraph company 1908 - early wireless radio company fraud normal price : $ 299 . 95 our sales price : $ 269 . 95
assets not transferred to jp life remained with the company and have been liquidated by the executive director of the kentucky office of insurance ( formerly
commissioner of the kentucky department of insurance
) who has been designated as the liquidator of the company . the liquidator is vested by operation of law with the title to all of the company ' s property , contracts , and rights of action , and may recover and reduce all such assets to possession and liquidate them in accordance with the terms of the order and applicable law . the court ordered the liquidator to liquidate the remaining assets of the estate as rapidly and economically as prudent . the assets of the company have been ( and will continue to be ) distributed in accordance with the priority established by applicable statute .
policies of an insolvent company are often transferred to a financially sound insurance company . if policies are not transferred to another company , the policies are continued and claims administered by either the guaranty associations or a third - party administrator ( tpa ) working on behalf of the associations . please contact the company / tpa listed below or the guaranty association in your state of residence for more information about your policy .
central bank & trust co . was established on april 15 , 1938 . headquartered in lexington , ky , it has assets in the amount of $ 1 , 966 , 857 , 000 . its customers are served from 23 locations . deposits in central bank & trust co . are insured by fdic .
the business of insurance is affected with a public interest and the state has an important and vital interest either in the liquidation or reorganization of such a business . neither the insurance company nor policyholders have inviolate rights that characterize ordinary private contracts . the policyholders ' contracts as well as others with interest in the company , are subject to a reasonable exercise of state police power . we agree with kcl ' s statement that rehabilitation is preferable to liquidation , but this ideal cannot survive the trial court ' s measured finding that
[ f ] urther attempts to rehabilitate kentucky central life would substantially increase the risk of loss to policyholders and creditors and would be futile .
one of the most common reasons critics of obamacare say the law is “collapsing” is that insurers appear to be fleeing the affordable care act’s health - insurance exchanges , or the state - based , online marketplaces where people can buy individual health - insurance policies .
when considering the company ' s complaint index and ratio , be sure to review the company history information displayed below for recent acquisitions , mergers , or other events that may affect the figures displayed for this company .
save kentucky healthcare , a nonprofit started by former democratic gov . steve beshear to advocate for kynect , said in a statement “we believe the main reason why insurance companies are proposing higher rates is because of the uncertainty of the future of kynect . ”
the filson’s mission is to collect , preserve , and tell the significant stories of kentucky and ohio valley history and culture .
for names of the companys current officers , please contact the company at the phone number listed in the contact information above or on their website .
complaint ratios : the ratio , expressed as a percentage , is the number of closed confirmed complaints divided by the number of policies the company had in force for the line of insurance and year indicated .
when he looked around for a company that managed farmland for investors like himself , luftman could not find one . so he created american farm investors in kentucky , his home state , in 2011 .
3 . ownership and affiliated companies - the common stock of kentucky central consists of two classes : voting and class a non - voting . the class a non - voting common stock is publicly held and was traded on the nasdaq stock market until removed from listing in april 1993 .
the jefferson - pilot corporation is one of the largest shareholder - owned life insurance companies in the united states . during the first decade of the twentieth century , ten insurance companies were incorporated in greensboro , the strongest of which was security life insurance company . at the same time , jefferson standard life insurance company was founded in raleigh , although by 1912 the company had depleted its surplus by paying excessive commissions to its agents . security life acquired the raleigh firm and the new company created by the merger retained the name jefferson standard . under the leadership of julian w . price , the company doubled its capital stock to $ 1 million by 1926 . it survived the great depression by issuing policies designed to
meet the times
with a graduated payment scale that enabled people to hold on to their policies . dividends continued to be paid , and the company continued buying bonds and lending money . it came to be considered one of greensboro ' s depression - proof industries .
frankfort , ky . ( ap ) - health insurance companies in kentucky want to increase rates by an average of 17 percent next year , continuing a national trend of hefty hikes as insurers adapt to a market reshaped by president barack obama’s signature health care law .
life insurance is designed to provide financial security to your loved ones in the event of your death . while that’s something that most people don’t want to think about , it is an important part of planning for the future . from paying off your mortgage and any debt to ensuring your family is financially prepared for the milestones ahead , life insurance can provide you with financial security and peace of mind . life insurance quote
please complete this form so that we are better able to answer your insurance questions . someone will contact you within the next business day .
mutual life and accident insurance association - locomotive engineers - 1910 normal price : $ 295 . 00 our sales price : $ 250 . 00
boeing airplane company ( early boeing airplane company stock certificate ) - delaware 1952 normal price : $ 595 . 00 our sales price : $ 495 . 00
maryland freestone mining and manufacturing company ( seneca sandstone company ) - maryland 1870 normal price : $ 495 . 00 our sales price : $ 395 . 00
kentucky soaps & such is a small general store that produces its own natural goat milk bath products and sells local , artisanal gifts .
negative comments about kentucky are popping up on social media and gov . steve beshear has said publicly kentucky does not want to repeat the example of indiana , which passed a religious freedom law but quickly repealed it when major companies announced they would consider leaving the state .
terry sebastian , spokesman for beshear , confirmed state tourism officials are monitoring social media where some anti - kentucky comments have popped up .
details : child advocates are concerned about the large number of underage
status offenders
whom kentucky incarcerates . a status offense is a wrongful act for juveniles — such as skipping school or running away for home — that isn ' t a crime for adults . in 2010 , there were 1 , 541 bookings of youths into kentucky juvenile detention facilities because of status offenses , according to kentucky youth advocates .
process , bidders could submit a type a bid , which involved infusing capital into the company and leaving the company intact , or a type b bid , which would spin off the life insurance business , leaving kcl to be liquidated . the rehabilitator ' s stated preference was for a type a bid .
electric bond and share company ( general electric holding company ) 1939 ( ebasco ) normal price : $ 249 . 95 our sales price : $ 199 . 95
minnesota mining & manufacturing company ( 3m ) 1904 - signed by 3m company founders normal price : $ 395 . 00 our sales price : $ 295 . 00
today utg , inc . serves as the holding company for universal guaranty life insurance company , cumberland woodlands , llc and stanford wilderness road , llc . through this diverse mix of business ventures and investments , we are able to reach into different markets and balance the ups and downs of an ever changing economy .
on july 12 , 2002 , the kentucky court of appeals reversed the rulings of the franklin circuit court and ordered the case remanded for further proceedings . rejecting the trial court ' s determination that dudley webb ' s written guaranties were unenforceable , the kentucky court of appeals ruled ,
we conclude that the guaranty agreements are enforceable by their very terms .
similarly , the kentucky court of appeals held that donald , dudley , and julie webb ' s promissory note for the west main properties loan was binding and enforceable . in june 2003 , the kentucky supreme court denied the defendants ' motion for discretionary review and the july 12 , 2002 opinion of the kentucky court of appeals became final .
new orleans & ohio telegraph lessees - louisville , kentucky 1858 normal price : $ 695 . 00 our sales price : $ 595 . 00
universal guaranty life insurance company is a 100 % subsidiary of utg . universal guaranty is a solid and secure life insurance company established to help ease the financial burdens faced during life’s most stressful times . we continually remind ourselves that the funds we manage belong to our clients and recognize each one as an individual person , not just a policy number . universal guaranty is committed to financial responsibility and ensuring the proceeds of every policy are there when needed and due .
lakeland asylum ( central state hospital ) , lakeland , ky , blueprint of “adams feeds” for pacific flush tank co . , madison , s . d . , june 27 , 1911
medical hall of transylvania university stock certificate - lexington , kentucky 1827 normal price : $ 595 . 00 our sales price : $ 495 . 00
details : there is a resurgence across kentucky of suspected
pill mills
— pain clinics feeding the state ' s epidemic of prescription - drug abuse . police and pharmacists say the demand for pain pills is growing at kentucky clinics because florida finally is cracking down on pill mills there , closing the interstate 75 pill pipeline used by kentucky addicts . one federal estimate has kentucky tied for the second - highest percentage of people 12 and older who use pain relievers for non - medical purposes : 6 . 58 percent , compared to the national level of 4 . 89 percent .
labor forces in kentucky would love to have the ear of a democratic governor who would , in theory , be more sympatheic to their concerns .
“people in kentucky understand how the marketplace works , and they know that they can shop around and find coverage that fits their needs and budget , ” gold said . “the vast majority of consumers in kentucky qualify for tax credits that reduce the cost of coverage below the sticker price . ”
in the southeast region 75 employees serve over 163 agencies in the states of georgia , maryland , north carolina , south carolina , tennessee , and virginia . the region writes over $ 239 million in premiums , personal and business insurance combined . on average , agencies in the southeast region write approximately $ 1 . 4 million with central .
george n . pierce company ( rare ) pierce - arrow car company - new york 1908 normal price : $ 695 . 00 our sales price : $ 595 . 00
utg and our family of businesses are blessed to be part of a community that inspires us and makes us proud to call central kentucky home . we believe stanford is our core , and we’re committed to making it – and every place our reach extends – better through a set of driving ideals we call the triple bottom line .
insurance doesn ' t have to be complicated . here you ' ll find easy explanations for all of your questions about coverages , pricing , and more .
additionally , pursuant to a july 12 , 2004 order of the franklin circuit court concerning amendments to the pleadings in the
guaranty case
( liquidator of kentucky central life insurance company v . r . dudley webb , et al . , franklin circuit court , civil action no . 94 - ci - 017 - ap - 12 ) , the webb group defendants have asserted a counterclaim against the liquidator for alleged wrongful use of civil proceedings arising from count i of the guaranty case . the liquidator disputes this claim and is unable to estimate any potential loss at this time .
in 2005 , united trust group , inc . completed the final steps of a series of mergers and consolidations , creating one holding company and one life insurance subsidiary , universal guaranty . through this process , united trust group , inc . became utg , inc . in addition to the mergers and consolidations that formed utg , the company , and those it has assumed over time , has a strong history of acquiring life insurance companies , some with histories and policies dating to the 1920s .
16 . losses / benefit payments - this amount includes payments made to policyholders with claims occurring prior to may 31 , 1995 and continuing claims on credit insurance .
11 . losses / benefit payments - this amount includes payments made to policyholders with claims occurring prior to may 31 , 1995 and continuing claims on credit insurance .
these publications were produced by the kentucky department of insurance ( unless otherwise noted ) . if you have a disability and need information in an alternate format , contact the department by calling 800 - 595 - 6053 ( in - state only ) . ( for voice to tdd , call 800 - 648 - 6057 . for tdd to voice , call 800 - 648 - 6056 . ) or writing department of insurance , po box 517 , frankfort , ky 40602 - 0517 .
lakeland asylum ( central state hospital ) , lakeland , ky , blueprint of “feeds and timed siphons” for pacific flush tank co . , westfield , ny , july 07 , 1911 [ folder 108 ]
but chandler , at that point , hadn ' t been in office for six years . and their fight wasn ' t about undoing what was central to one of the governor ' s legacies .
4 . order of distribution - the order of distribution from the assets of the company ' s estate is set forth at krs 304 . 33 - 430 , prior to its amendment in 2000 . by its express terms , the statute applies and governs the priority of distribution of assets in any proceeding to liquidate an insurer pending on the effective date of the statute . even if adopted by kentucky central , the changes to the statute effectuated in 2000 and subsequently would have no effect on the priority of distribution of the company ' s assets .
brink ' s express company ( western branch of the brink ' s armored car company ) - california 1912 normal price : $ 595 . 00 our sales price : $ 495 . 00
united states shipbuilding company - uss oregon battleship vignette ( company became bethlehem steel corporation ) - new jersey 1902 normal price : $ 595 . 00 our sales price : $ 495 . 00
“i’ve got a mix of emotions , ” she said . “i do want everybody to have insurance , but i understand what it’s like to pay for it too . ”
with the judgment of the commissioner of insurance being that liquidation was subsequently desirable and necessary , we determine that only a strong showing to the contrary would have justified the trial court ' s refusal to follow the recommendations of the administrative officers to whom the supervision of the insurance company was entrusted by the legislature . in re new york title & mortgage co . , 156 misc . 186 , 281 n . y . s . 715 ( 1935 ) .
brush electric light & power company - rare issued certificate - early g . e . company - montana , territory 1882 normal price : $ 495 . 00 our sales price : $ 395 . 00
at the conclusion of the first round of the bid process , eight ( 8 ) bids were received , and all such bids were type b bids . after a second round of bidding , jefferson pilot life insurance company (
jp
) was chosen as the winning bidder .
hughes tool company ipo certificate ( howard hughes , jr . , sold hughes tool company in an ipo ) - delaware 1972 normal price : $ 395 . 00 our sales price : $ 295 . 00
southern telegraph company 1882 normal price : $ 695 . 00 our sales price : $ 595 . 00
hurdles : few tasks are more political . politicians prefer to choose their voters when possible . in the past , the state house and senate each drew its own districts and largely respected the other ' s decisions , with each chamber ' s majority party reaping the benefits . the big partisan fight comes over kentucky ' s congressional districts . adding or subtracting a few counties to central kentucky ' s 6th congressional district , for example , could guarantee re - election for incumbent democrat ben chandler or cost him the job , depending on the voter makeup of the counties .
bevin spokeswoman jessica ditto said the affordable care act is failing and hurting the state , offering the rate increases as proof that the state needs “a sustainable healthcare model tailored for kentucky . ” bevin wants to repeal the state’s expanded medicaid program and replace it with a system similar to one in indiana , where some medicaid recipients pay small premiums for their insurance .
on february 12 , 1993 , at the request of the then commissioner of insurance , kcl was placed in rehabilitation by order of this court , and the commissioner was appointed rehabilitator . at that time , kcl had approximately $ 43 billion in life insurance in force in forty - nine states and the district of columbia . also , through its subsidiary companies , kcl had
this story has been corrected to reflect that the factors used to determine a person’s health insurance premium are age , where a person lives and whether they smoke , not a person’s gender .
the key element of the rehabilitator ' s plan of reorganization and reinsurance , the transfer to jp life of most of the company ' s assets in exchange for jp life ' s agreement to assume and
enhance
the life insurance policies and annuity contracts previously issued by the company , was closed on may 31 , 1995 . all policyholders of the company were given the right , if they chose to do so , to keep their life insurance and annuity contracts , and immediately become policyholders of jp life ; such policyholders are referred to herein as
opt - ins .
those policyholders who elected not to have their policies transferred are referred to herein as
opt - outs .
in the southwest regional office , 75 employees service approximately over 90 agencies in the states of arizona , colorado , nevada , new mexico , oklahoma and texas . under the guidance of regional vice president tim rauch , the region writes over $ 219 million in premiums , personal and commercial combined ; averaging $ 2 . 6 million per agency . the southwest region boasts the largest state in the company with texas making up to 21 percent of the total company premium and the largest agency in the company with production of $ 43 million with central .
this action involved a dispute as to whether the policyholders and creditors of kcl had priority as to the assets of mid - central investment co . over preferred shareholders of mid - central . a settlement was reached on these claims , pursuant to which the preferred shareholders received payment of $ 6 , 000 , 000 in settlement of claims of nearly $ 8 , 800 , 000 . the settlement was approved by the franklin circuit court on december 19 , 2002 .
radio shack random house rayonier foundation raytheon co . rbc dain rauscher , inc . reader ' s digest association , inc . realnetworks , inc . reebok international , ltd . reliable life insurance co . reuter america , inc . revlon , inc . rexam , inc . rexnord corp . rhodia , inc . riviana foods inc . rli insurance co . robert wood johnson foundation rochester midland corp . rockefeller brother fund , inc . rockefeller family and associates rockefeller group rockwell automation ronin development corp . royal and sun alliance insurance ryco divison , reilly - whiteman , inc . back to top
perhaps nowhere has the health care law had as powerful an impact as in kentucky , where nearly one in three people now receive coverage through medicaid , expanded under the legislation . perhaps no region in kentucky has benefited as much as appalachia , the impoverished eastern part of the state , where in some counties more than 60 percent of people are covered by medicaid .
coca - cola company specimen normal price : $ 295 . 00 our sales price : $ 195 . 00
philadelphia guano company - 1857 normal price : $ 595 . 00 our sales price : $ 495 . 00
washington turnpike company - 1819 normal price : $ 199 . 95 our sales price : $ 169 . 95
the chandler - breathitt feud was a far cry from the open warfare we saw on thursday as beshear announced plans to try to salvage the signature successes of his administration : the expansion of medicaid and the creation of the kynect health insurance portal , which combined , have caused kentucky’s uninsured rate to drop from 20 . 4 percent to 7 . 5 percent , according to gallup .
complaint index : indicates how a company ' s ratio of the number of complaints to the number of policyholders compares to the average for all insurers . the index is calculated by dividing the company ' s percentage of complaints for a specific line of insurance by the company ' s percentage of the policies in force for the same line of insurance . the average index is 1 . 00 . a number less than 1 indicates fewer complaints than average ; a number greater than 1 indicates more complaints than average . for the most recent completed year , a given insurer ' s index may change over time , as policy count data is received by tdi . this will affect each insurer ' s percentage of the total .
assets not transferred to jp life remained with the company and are being liquidated by the commissioner of the kentucky department of insurance who has been designated as the liquidator of the company . the liquidator is vested by operation of law with the title to all of the company ' s property , contracts , and rights of action , and may recover and reduce all such assets to possession and liquidate them in accordance with the terms of the order and applicable law . the court has ordered the liquidator to liquidate the remaining assets of the estate as rapidly and economically as prudent . as these assets are liquidated , they will be utilized to repay the guaranty associations and to make policyholders whole . the remaining assets of the company , if any , will be distributed to other creditors and shareholders in the priority established by applicable statute .


the local interstellar cloud ( lic ) , also known as the local fluff , is the interstellar cloud roughly 30 light-years ( 9.2 pc ) across through which the solar system is currently moving .

it is currently unknown if the sun is embedded in the local interstellar cloud , or in the region where the local interstellar cloud is interacting with the neighboring g-cloud .

local interstellar cloud

redfield s . , linsky j . the structure of the local interstellar medium . iv . dynamics , morphology , physical properties , and implications of cloud–cloud interactions .
redfield , s . , and linsky , j . l . : 2001 ,
microstructure of the local interstellar cloud and the identification of the hyades cloud
, astrophysical journal , 551 , 413
centauri a and b evidently lie beyond the local interstellar cloud , although the line of sight from earth is dominated by another interstellar cloud known as the g cloud . an interstellar mission to this system would tell us whether the sun is actually embedded in the local interstellar cloud or just outside it in the region where the lic is interacting with the g cloud . conceivably a centauri mission would thus get to sample two different interstellar clouds , along with the low density material between them . as crawford writes , we would receive a windfall of data :
the local interstellar cloud is an almost empty bubble of gas and dust that our solar system is travelling through with a distinct direction and speed .
previous measurements of interstellar helium atoms by the ulysses spacecraft indicated the solar system may be emerging from the local cloud . but the latest ibex data , which detected incoming atoms moving at a slower speed , show the heliosphere is still embedded within the local cloud .
determine the chemical abundances and depletions of warm clouds in the local interstellar medium .
above : an artist ' s concept of the local interstellar cloud , also known as the
local fluff .
credit : linda huff ( american scientist ) and priscilla frisch ( university of chicago ) [ more ]
redfield , seth and linsky , jeffrey l . : 2008 ,
the structure of the local interstellar medium . iv . dynamics , morphology , physical properties , and implications of cloud - cloud interactions
, astrophysical journal , 673 , 283
redfield , s . , and linsky , j . l . , : 2000 ,
the three dimensional structure of the warm local interstellar medium . ii . the colorado model of the local interstellar cloud ( lic ) , astrophysical journal , 534 , 825
, also called the local fluff , during the next 10 , 000 years . much remains unknown about the local
the lism is that region of space in the local galactic arm where the sun is located ( thomas , 1978 ) , the local interstellar cloud is the cloud within it in which the sun resides , and the heliosphere is the region in space filled with solar wind material ( both supersonic and subsonic flow ) .
, the local cloud has an extent of about 5 pc ( 15 light - years ) in the direction of g191 - b2b . if this dimension is typical , the total mass of the cloud is about 0 . 4
determine the physical properties ( temperature , density , and ionization state ) of warm clouds in the local interstellar medium .
the observed temperature and density of the local cloud do not provide enough pressure to resist the ' crushing action ' of the hot gas around it ,
says opher .
the sun is located near the edge of a great void in interstellar matter known as the
local bubble
that is filled with hot low - density plasma . several thousand years ago the sun entered our local interstellar cloud ( lic ) , one of several nearby clouds composed of warm , low density ( ~ 0 . 3 atoms / cm
map of the local galactic neighborhood showing the sun located near the edge of our local interstellar cloud ( lic ) . the star alpha - centauri is located just over 4 light - years away in the neighboring g - cloud complex . outside these clouds , the density may be lower than 0 . 001 atoms / cc . our sun and the lic have a relative velocity of 26 km / sec .
during the past few million years , wispy filaments of interstellar gas have drifted into the local bubble . our solar system is immersed in one of those filaments - - the
local fluff ,
a relatively cool ( 7000 k ) cloud containing 0 . 1 atoms per cubic centimeter . by galactic standards , the local fluff is not very substantial . it has little effect on earth because the solar wind and the sun ' s magnetic field are able to hold the wispy cloud at bay .
2 science summary : the interaction of the solar wind and the local interstellar medium .
national research council . 2004 .
the voyagers are not actually inside the local fluff ,
says opher .
but they are getting close and can sense what the cloud is like as they approach it .
right : an artist ' s concept of the local fluff . [ more ]
astronomers originally thought that this suffocating cloud would smother its smaller relative , but measurements from the voyager probes as they exit the solar system have shown that the fluff has its own magnetic field that repels the larger cloud .
the survival of the local cloud in the environment of the hot local bubble is problematical . if it predated the occurrence of a nearby supernova whose blast wave might have created the local bubble , it should not have survived the blast . even in the current environment , such a cloud must have a short lifetime because of evaporation by the hot bubble gas , and it is therefore tempting to conclude that the cloud is fairly young . perhaps it is the remnant of a planetary nebula shed by a nearby star that has recently become a white dwarf ( cox & reynolds 1987 ) .
1 . evaluating the morphology of the local interstellar medium : using new data to distinguish between multiple discrete clouds and a continuous medium redfield , s . , & linsky , j . l . 2015 , apj , 812 , 125 we use a new sample of hst observations to test between a lism morphology of a single lism cloud that is kinematically deformed or a multiple cloud model . we find the multiple cloud model is preferred , even though it utilizes more parameters .
we’d better , in other words , get up to speed about the interstellar medium before we launch any true interstellar craft , and that means a series of early missions of a precursor nature that can tell us what to expect . crawford notes that the sun is currently located close to the boundary of a small low - density interstellar cloud known as the local interstellar cloud ( lic ) , one of several such clouds within several parsecs of our solar system — indeed , one study identifies seven such clouds within 5 parsecs of sol . these are found within the local bubble , about which this :
v . v . izmodenov , j . geiss , r . lallement , g . gloeckler , v . b . baranov , y . g . malama , filtration of interstellar hydrogen in the two - shock heliospheric interface : inferences on the local interstellar cloud electron density . j . geophys . res .
g . p . zank , interaction of the solar wind with the local interstellar medium : a theoretical perspective . space sci . rev .
6 . the three - dimensional structure of the warm local interstellar medium . ii . the colorado model of the local interstellar cloud redfield , s . , & linsky , j . l . 2000 , apj , 534 , 825 my first paper on the lism that i led , and the beginning of a long series of papers with my ph . d . advisor , jeff linsky . we developed a model of the morphology of the local interstellar cloud , the cloud that directly surrounds the solar system , and the material in which the voyager spacecraft are speeding into . an online lic model column density calculator is available to predict the amount of material associated with the lic along any given sight line . this work was featured in physics today and sky & telescope .
weingartner , j . c . & draine , b . t . dust grain - size distributions and extinction in the milky way , large magellanic cloud , and small magellanic cloud . astrophys . j . 548 , 296 ( 2001 ) .
nasa astronomer ' s best guess is depicted in the map ( below ) of the surrounding 1500 light years constructed from multiple observations and deductions . the local interstellar cloud ( lic ) , shown in violet , which is flowing away from the scorpius - centaurus association of young stars ) .
i ' ve been trying to wrap my head around capabilities of current radio - astronomical spectrometry technology to isolate not too distant tenuous sources , say , chemical composition and density of the the interstellar medium right in the neighborhood of our solar system . in essence , what is our local interstellar cloud made out of and how much of it is there :
cen line of sight : d / h ratio , physical properties of local interstellar gas , and measurement of heated hydrogen near the heliopause . astrophys . j .
h . l . pauls , g . p . zank , interaction of a nonuniform solar wind with the local interstellar medium . j . geophys . res .
opher m . , stone e . c . , liewer p . c . the effects of a local interstellar c field on voyager 1 and 2 observations .
we can learn a lot about these matters , including the properties of the local interstellar cloud , by spectroscopic studies of interstellar absorption lines toward nearby stars . investigations into our solar system’s interactions with the heliosphere are also useful , but we’ll need to augment these with direct measurements of the interstellar materials just beyond the heliopause , and that means developing the capability to get space probes to distances up to 1000 au or more .
4 . the structure of the local interstellar medium iv : dynamics , morphology , physical properties , and implications of cloud - cloud interactions redfield , s . , & linsky , j . l . 2008 , apj , 673 , 283 a new kinematic model of the suite of 15 clouds within about 15 pc of the sun . an online lism kinematic calculator is available to predict the velocity of absorption along any given sight line .
study the interaction of stellar winds with the local ism that forms hydrogen walls and astrospheres around stars .
astronomers call the cloud we ' re running into now the local interstellar cloud or
local fluff
for short . it ' s about 30 light years wide and contains a wispy mixture of hydrogen and helium atoms at a temperature of 6000 c . the existential mystery of the fluff has to do with its surroundings . about 10 million years ago , a cluster of supernovas exploded nearby , creating a giant bubble of million - degree gas . the fluff is completely surrounded by this high - pressure supernova exhaust and should be crushed or dispersed by it .
wood , b . e . , redfield , s . , linsky , j . l . , and sahu , m . s . : 2002 ,
elemental abundances and ionization states within the local interstellar cloud derived from hst and fuse observations of the capella line of sight
, astrophysical journal , 581 , 1168
3 . the interstellar medium surrounding the sun frisch , p . c . , redfield , s . , & slavin , j . d . 2011 , araa , 49 , 237 a review of our current understanding of the local interstellar medium .
v . florinski , g . p . zank , w . i . axford , the solar system in a dense interstellar cloud : implications for cosmic ray fluxes at earth and 10be records . geophys . res . lett .
h . l . pauls , g . p . zank , l . l . williams , interaction of the solar wind with the local interstellar medium . j . geophys . res .
our sun is moving through the local interstellar gas cloud approximately into the direction of scorpio with a speed of about 25 km / sec . as a result of this motion , an interstellar wind with that speed is blowing through our planetary system . this is similar to the wind felt while driving a convertible car with the top down . we measure this interstellar wind as helium , and the density of helium changes with our year , an effect that can be seen in this brief animation .
redfield , s . , and linsky , j . l . : 2004 ,
the structure of the local interstellar medium . iii . temperature and turbulence
, astrophysical journal , 613 , 1004
the matter between stars , the interstellar medium , varies considerably from region to region in our galaxy . the sun is inside a very large structure called the local bubble , a region of hot tenuous gas formed by supernova explosions tens of millions of years ago [ 1–3 ] . adjacent to the local bubble is a similar but larger bubble , also formed from supernova explosions . inside the local bubble are smaller , denser clouds which may have broken off from the bubble interaction region . the sun is now in one of these denser , cooler clouds . the h density of the local cloud is about 0 . 2 cm −3 , the temperature is about 6000 k , and the cloud moves about 23 km / s with respect to the sun [ 4 , 5 ] . the magnetic field strength cannot be directly measured , but based on models is 3–5 nt [ 6 , 7 ] .
close to the sun ( within ~ 5 au ) , the local distribution of interstellar neutral helium has been measured using an impact - ionization method by the ulysses interstellar neutral gas experiment ( gas ) ( witte et al . , 1992 ) . these measurements provide the velocity and direction of the flow of interstellar he as well as its temperature and density .
december 23 , 2009 : the solar system is passing through an interstellar cloud that physics says should not exist . in the dec . 24th issue of nature , a team of scientists reveal how nasa ' s voyager spacecraft have solved the mystery .
linsky , jeffrey l . , rickett , barney j . , and redfield , seth : 2008 ,
the origin of radio scintillation in the local interstellar medium
, astrophysical journal , 675 , 413
h . l . pauls , g . p . zank , interaction of a nonuniform solar wind with the local interstellar medium . 2 . a two - fluid model . j . geophys . res .
we entered the 30 - light - year - wide cloud of hydrogen and helium , which astronomers refer to as ‘local fluff’ , at some point after anatomically modern humans evolved about 200 , 000 years ago , and we’ll be leaving it in about 10 , 000 to 20 , 00 years .
toward all stars observed , and this minimum is all that is seen for stars in the local bubble . thus , it appears that the sun must be surrounded by a small , at least partially neutral cloud with approximately this column density . an atomic - hydrogen density of about 0 . 1 cm
whereas solar wind and interstellar plasmas respond to electromagnetic fields ( being decelerated at the heliospheric boundary shocks , for example ) , interstellar neutrals flow relatively unimpeded . plasma
below : a computer - simulated chips spectrum of extreme - uv radiation from hot gas in the local bubble . [ more ]
our solar system has been voyaging through the very low density local interstellar cloud , a region about 30 light - years across that ' s as sparse as a handful of air stretched over a column that is hundreds of light years long , or about one atom per three cubic centimeters of space . earth and our sun has been traveling through the cloud for somewhere between 40 , 000 and 150 , 000 years and will probably not emerge for another 20 , 000 years . a mere blip in our 250 million - year orbit through the milky way .
if the sun does lie within the lic , then a mission to α cen would sample the outer layers of the lic , an interval of low density lb material , the edge of the g cloud , and the deep interior of the g cloud . this would sample one of the most diverse ranges of interstellar conditions of any mission to another star located with 5 pc of the sun , as most other potential targets lie within the lic… even if the sun lies just outside the lic ( as argued by redfield and linsky [ 8 ] ) , the trajectory to α cen would still permit detailed observations of the boundary of the g cloud ( and its possible interaction with the lic ) , and determine how its properties change with increasing depth into the cloud from the boundary .
isn ' t alpha centauri in there as well ? given it ' s very short distance from sol , i ' d expect both systems to belong to the same cloud .
redfield , s . , wood , b . e . , and linsky , j . l . : 2004 ,
physical structure of the local interstellar medium
, advances in space research , 34 , 41
the first thing to notice is that the local interstellar cloud , in which the sun is evolving right now , is a fairly diffuse region , with a typical density of about one to a few particles per cubic centimeters . clouds with such low density are actually mostly atomic ; as you can see on this plot ( snow & mccall 2006 , adapted from neufeld et al . 2005 ) :
linsky , j . l . and redfield , s . : 2015 ,
what is the morphology of the local interstellar medium and its importance for the gaia era ?
, memorie della societa astronomica italiana , 86 , 606
p . c . frisch , characteristics of nearby interstellar matter . space sci . rev .
i don’t want to worry you , but the solar system is currently sat in the middle of a vast cloud of incredibly hot gas , about the same temperature as the surface of the sun .
redfield , s . and linsky , j . l . : 2015 ,
evaluating the morphology of the local interstellar medium : using new data to distinguish between multiple discrete clouds and a contimuous medium
, astrophysical journal , 822 , 125
g . p . zank , h . l . pauls , l . l . williams , d . t . hall , interaction of the solar wind with the local interstellar medium : a multifluid approach . j . geophys . res .
beyond that , and having taken these findings in account in its design , a true interstellar probe would be a priceless tool for measuring everything from dust density and composition to the interstellar magnetic field strength enroute . crawford points out that a spacecraft moving at 0 . 1c could do daily measurements 17 au apart ( roughly half the radius of the solar system ) which would offer unprecedented knowledge of the structure of the local interstellar medium .
good news is , there is not only molecular lines to give informations about the physical properties ( temperature , density , ionization , velocity structure and morphology ) of the local interstellar cloud . in particular , ultraviolet is a perfectly suited wavelength range to sudy this region in absorption , and there are some quite extensive studies of the subject ( see for example paper i , paper ii , paper iii and paper iv of redfield et al . ) .
the lic resides in a low - density hole in the interstellar medium ( ism ) called the local bubble , shown in black . nearby , high - density molecular clouds including the aquila rift surround star forming regions , each shown in orange .
the
local bubble
exists in a network of cavities in the interstellar medium , probably carved by massive star explosions millions of years ago . the interstellar medium ( or ism ) is the matter that exists in the space between the star systems in a galaxy . this matter includes gas in ionic , atomic , and molecular form , dust , and cosmic rays . it fills interstellar space and blends smoothly into the surrounding intergalactic space .
i recall reading about smoke particle shield , although i do not recall the source . once cruising speed is reached , a probe moves out significantly ahead of the main spacecraft and generates a very large cloud of smoke particles that leads the spacecraft for the entire journey . the idea is that the smoke cloud will intercept and atomize the majority of the dust particles before the main spacecraft reaches that area of space .
the newly - created ion , with its positive electric charge , can no longer cross magnetic field lines . ions are forced to gyrate around a field line , like a gymnast swings around the horizontal bar in the giant swing . ( to see an animated explanation of this , please watch part two of our movie regading the topic . ) these interstellar ions are called
pickup ions
. they are an excellent tool for determining the density of the local insterstellar cloud , and to help us find out of which elements the interstellar medium consists .
for more information regarding this website and the interstellar probe project , please contact dr . paulett liewer
model the structure and kinematics of warm clouds in the interstellar medium out to about 100 pc .
observations from the interstellar boundary explorer are not consistent with a bow shock ahead of the heliosphere .
frisch p . c . the s1 shell and interstellar magnetic field and gas near the heliosphere .
we know because we can still see the cloud today . it ' s 450 light years from earth and receding in the direction of the constellations scorpius and centaurus ( hence the cloud ' s name ,
sco - cen
) . astronomer jesús maíz - apellániz of johns hopkins university recently backtracked sco - cen ' s motion and measured its closest approach : 130 light years away about 5 million years ago .
d . p . cox , l . helenius , flux - tube dynamics and a model for the origin of the local fluff . astrophys . j .
perhaps the most important lesson learned from the voyager and ulysses missions , complemented by theory and modeling efforts , is that the physics of the outer heliosphere is influenced profoundly by the lism since we are embedded in the local interstellar cloud ( lic ) . this is because neutral hydrogen atoms flow into the heliosphere and are the dominant component , by mass , from 10 au outward ( i . e . , beyond saturn ) . as described below , the ionization of interstellar neutrals in the supersonic solar wind can even affect the size and structure of the global heliosphere .
supernovas near earth are rare today , but during the pliocene era of australopithecus supernovas happened more often . their source was an interstellar cloud called
sco - cen
that was slowly gliding by the solar system . within it , dense knots coalesced to form short - lived massive stars , which exploded like popcorn .
figure 2 . 8 projection of a three - dimensional magnetohydrodynamic - only simulation ( i . e . , excluding interstellar h atoms ) in the presence of an interplanetary and an interstellar magnetic field . the interstellar magnetic field is oriented 20° from the interstellar flow direction and the interstellar magnetic field strength is assumed to be 1 . 6 μg . density isolines are plotted in the meridional plane , together with three - dimensional steamlines starting in this plane . source : pogorelov et al . ( 2004 ) .
this may be applicable : urltoken table1 . dat contains a list of hipparchos stars in the ism ( local bubble ) used to calibrate distances to nai observations .
frisch has noted that homo sapiens arose only after the local interstellar medium was cleared out . fewer clouds to run into would promote a stabler climate for our planet , she argues . so perhaps what australopithecus saw was a good omen , after all . . . .
linsky , j . l . , redfield , s . , wood , b . e . , and piskunov , n . : 2000 ,
the three dimensional structure of the warm local interstellar medium . i . methodology
, astrophysical journal , 528 , 756
t . linde , t . i . gombosi , p . l . roe , k . g . powell , d . l . dezeeuw , the heliosphere in the magnetized local interstellar medium : results of a 3d mhd simulation . j . geophys . res .
using data from voyager , we have discovered a strong magnetic field just outside the solar system ,
explains lead author merav opher , a nasa heliophysics guest investigator from george mason university .
this magnetic field holds the interstellar cloud together and solves the long - standing puzzle of how it can exist at all .
the effectiveness of the lyman - alpha absorption technique for investigating the outer heliosheath resides in its ability to probe local density and temperature enhancements . the lyman - alpha absorption
the sensitivity of hut in the 400 - 900 å portion of the extreme - uv band allows us to make a direct measurement of the neutral - hydrogen and neutral helium column densities in the local ism . the nearby hot white dwarf g191 - b2b , located within the bubble but beyond the local cloud , provides a suitable background source for this measurement . it is a da white dwarf , meaning that it has a pure hydrogen atmosphere whose properties are readily calculated , and is hot enough ( 60 , 000 k ) to provide a strong signal at 500 å . furthermore , the absence of atmospheric helium in such a star avoids potential confusion with interstellar helium .
these [ clouds ] are immersed in the very empty ( n h ~ 0 . 005 cm - 3 ) and probably hot ( t ~ 10 6 k ) local bubble ( lb ) in the interstellar medium , which extends for about 60 - 100 parsecs from the sun in the galactic plane before denser interstellar clouds are encountered ( at high galactic latitudes the lb appears to be open , forming a chimney - like structure in the interstellar medium which extends into the galactic halo… )
there are , however , denser clouds out there . the sco - cen complex , for instance , is sending a stream of interstellar
cloudlets
in our direction .
some of those cloudlets might be hundreds of times denser than the local fluff ,
says priscilla frisch , an astrophysicist at the university of chicago who studies the local interstellar medium .
if we ran into one , it would compress the sun ' s magnetic field and allow more cosmic rays to penetrate the inner solar system , with unknown effects on climate and life .
linsky , j . l . , redfield , s . , and schwarz , m . : 2017 ,
visualizing the three - dimensional structure of the local interstellar medium and possible physical causes of this structure
, open access journal of physics : conference series , to appear
primitive solar system materials , such as certain types of meteorites , interplanetary dust particles and cometary matter , contain small quantities of refractory dust grains that are older than our solar system . these ‘presolar grains’ condensed in the winds of evolved stars and in the ejecta of stellar explosions , and they were part of the interstellar gas and dust cloud from which our solar system formed 4 . 57 billion years ago 1 . interstellar dust is not only stardust but forms in the interstellar medium as well , predominantly as silicates , and , to a lesser extent , as carbonaceous dust and iron particles 2 . presolar grains represent a sample of stardust , and their abundances in primitive solar system materials can be used to constrain the fraction of stardust among interstellar dust . here we show that the size distribution of presolar silicates follows that observationally derived for interstellar dust , at least in the diameter range 100–500 nm , that current estimates of presolar grain abundances ( mass fractions ) are at least a factor of 2 too low , and that several per cent of the interstellar dust in the interstellar cloud pre - dating our solar system was stardust , making it a minor but still important ingredient of the starting material from which our solar system formed .
linsky , j . l . : 2002 ,
constructing physically realistic models of the interstellar gas : start with understanding the physics of the local ism
, in hubble science legacy workshop , ed . k . sembach , et al , asp conf . series , 291 , 188
polarized radiation in the nebula cloud leads to the formation of proteins , nucleobases and then dna . the combination of hydrogen , carbon , oxygen , nitrogen , cyanide and several other elements , could create adenine , which is a dna base , whereas oxygen and phosphorus could ladder dna base pairs . glycine has also been identified in the interstellar clouds .
we present an empirical dynamical model of the local interstellar medium based on 270 radial - velocity measurements for 157 sight lines toward nearby stars . physical - parameter measurements ( i . e . , temperature , turbulent velocity , depletions ) are available for 90 components , or one - third of the sample , enabling initial characterizations of the physical properties of lism clouds . the model includes 15 warm clouds located within 15 pc of the sun , each with a different velocity vector . we derive projected morphologies of all clouds and estimate the volume filling factor of warm partially ionized material in the lism to be between ~ 5 . 5 % and 19 % . relative velocities of potentially interacting clouds are often supersonic , consistent with heating , turbulent , and metal - depletion properties . cloud - cloud collisions may be responsible for the filamentary morphologies found in ~ 1 / 3 of lism clouds , the distribution of clouds along the boundaries of the two nearest clouds ( lic and g ) , the detailed shape and heating of the mic cloud , the location of nearby radio scintillation screens , and the location of a lism cold cloud . contrary to previous claims , the sun appears to be located in the transition zone between the lic and g clouds .
redfield , s . , and linsky , j . l . : 2002 ,
the structure of the local interstellar medium . i . high - resolution observations of fe ii , mg ii , and caii toward stars within 100 parsecs
, astrophysical journal supplement series , 139 , 439
jenkins , e . b . , et al ( including linsky , j . l . ) , 2000 ,
the ionization of the local interstellar medium as revealed by fuse observations of n , o , and ar toward white dwarf stars
, astrophysical journal letters , 538 , l81
linsky , j . l . and redfield , s . : 2009 ,
structure , dynamics , and physical properties of the warm lism within the local bubble
, in the local bubble and beyond ii , ed . k . d . kuntz , r . k . smith , and s . l . snowden , aip conference proceedings 1156 , 174
alouani - bibi1 f . , opher m . , alexashov d . , izmodenov v . , toth g . kinetic versus multi - fluid approach for interstellar neutrals in the heliosphere : exploration of the interstellar magnetic field effects .
i posted this question in the space exploration forum , but i think it might be more appropriate here in the astronomy forum . this is the thread : urltoken basically , i ' d like to know which local stars are , and aren ' t , embedded in the
local fluff
along with the sun . i can ' t find any lists .
linsky , j . l . : 2009 ,
results of the issi workshop ' from the outer heliosphere to the local bubble : comparison of new observations with theory
, in the local bubble and beyond ii , ed . k . d . kuntz , r . k . smith , and s . l . snowden , aip conference proceedings 1156 , 184
linsky , j . l . and redfield , s . : 2007 ,
structure of the local ism
, in sins - small ionized and neutral structures in the diffuse interstellar medium , ed . m . haverkorn and w . m . goss , asp conf . series , 365 , 219
what was something of a mystery until recently , however , is why the cloud exists at all . about ten million years ago , a cluster of supernovae exploded close to earth , creating a bubble of much - hotter gas that enveloped the fluff .
redfield , s . , and linsky , j . l . : 2004 ,
the structure of the local interstellar medium . ii . observations of d i , c ii , n i , o i , al ii , and si ii toward stars within 100 parsecs
, astrophysical journal , 602 , 776
r . ratkiewicz , a . barnes , g . a . molvik , j . r . spreiter , s . s . stahara , m . vinokur , s . venkateswaran , effect of varying strength and orientation of local interstellar magnetic field on configuration of exterior heliosphere : 3d mhd simulations . astron . astrophys .
the only two stars that are definitely shown as being embedded in the local fluff are sol and altair ; bit it looks a lot more extensive than that . stars that might be in the fluff , judging by the map praedst posted , include barnard ' s star , 61 cygni , wolf 1055 , and maybe 70 ophiuchi . but since we don ' t know the thickness of this cloud from the published image , we can ' t be sure .
n . v . pogorelov , g . p . zank , t . ogino , three - dimensional features of the outer heliosphere due to coupling between the interstellar and interplanetary magnetic fields i . magnetohydrodynamic model : interstellar perspective . astrophys . j .
this report is the summary of a workshop held in may 2003 by the space studies board ' s committee on solar and space physics to synthesize understanding of the physics of the outer heliosphere and the critical role played by the local interstellar medium ( lism ) and to identify directions for the further exploration of this challenging environment .
however , suppose we assume for the moment that there is an impending threat from such a cloudlet incursion . would the solar and climatic effects be like that of a superwave ? well we can do some calculations to find out . given that the local fluff has a density of ~ 0 . 1 hydrogen atoms / cm 3 . the hypothesized cloudlet , which could have a density hundreds of times greater , would then have a density of say around 20 to 50 hydrogen atoms per cubic centimeter . this would equal a cloud density of around 3 to 8 x 10 - 23 grams / cm 3 . an interstellar cloud incursion of this sort would have a significant climatic effect and a significant solar effect . but the most dangerous phase would likely last for several years , rather than for centuries or millennia as is often the case for the effects from a superwave .
linsky , j . l . and redfield , s . : 2014 ,
the local ism in three dimensions : kinematics , morphology and physical properties
, astrophysics and space science , 354 , 29
we often think about interstellar probes only in the context of what they find at the end of their journeys — astrobiologically interesting planets seem to be the whole story . but not so fast . as ian crawford ( university of london ) notes in a recent paper , there are quite a few fascinating — and indeed critical — things we need to learn about interstellar space itself , in this case what is known as the local interstellar medium ( lism ) . crawford , who has been analyzing these matters for the project icarus team , notes how much we’ve learned about the lism since the daedalus days .
in the gas flowing through the solar system and a neutral - hydrogen density about five times as large with a temperature of about 8 , 000 k . the low observed ratio of h to he compared with the nominal cosmic abundance ratio of 10 has usually been interpreted to indicate that the hydrogen is significantly ionized , whereas the helium is largely neutral . however , known sources of ionizing radiation in the solar neighborhood are insufficient to maintain such a high degree of hydrogen ionization in the local cloud .
w . i . axford , the interaction of the solar wind with the interstellar medium . solar wind , nasa spec . publ .
the size of the heliosphere is determined by a balance of forces : solar wind inflates the bubble from the inside while the local fluff compresses it from the outside . voyager ' s crossings into the heliosheath revealed the approximate size of the heliosphere and , thus , how much pressure the local fluff exerts . a portion of that pressure is magnetic and corresponds to the ~ 5 microgauss opher ' s team has reported in nature .
malamut , c . , redfield , s . , linsky , j . l . , wood , b . e . , and ayres , t . r . : 2014 ,
the structure of the local interstellar medium . vi . new mgii , feii , and mnii observations toward stars within 100 pc
, astrophysical journal , 787 , 75
the relative proximity of α cen , together with its interesting interstellar sightline and the presence of stars of three different spectral types , makes it an attractive target for humanity’s first interstellar mission . however , as the bulk of the scientific benefits of interstellar spaceflight pertain to planetary science and astrobiology , a final prioritization must await future developments in the detection of planetary systems around the nearest stars . fortunately , expected advances in astronomical instrumentation over the next century should ensure that a comprehensive list of prioritized targets is available well before rapid interstellar travel is technically feasible .
n . v . pogorelov , t . matsuda , nonevolutionary mhd shocks in the solar wind and interstellar medium interaction . astron . astrophys .
pickup ion data directly to the lism h . secondly , there is some disagreement about the temperature of neutral hydrogen in the interplanetary medium . however , the interstellar helium temperature now appears to be well constrained and , by implication , the temperature of the interstellar h as well .
on the other hand , the website of priscilla frisch ( urltoken ) suggests that this apod image is based on some slightly earlier and less complete data from the same instrument ( hubble ghrs ) . the methodology is outlined in frisch ( 1994 ) , science , v265 , p1423 ,
morphology and ionization of the interstellar cloud surrounding the solar system
: urltoken using the results from the 1995 paper i mentioned above would be better .
even if we didn’t have that , the damage wouldn’t be too great . the cloud is hot , but it’s also not very dense — with just 0 . 3 atoms per cubic centimetre . at the edge of the atmosphere , for comparison , the earth has about 12 billion atoms per cubic centimetre .
linsky , j . l . , redfield , s . , and wood , b . : 2000 ,
components of the local interstellar medium
, invited talk at iau symposium 203 , recent insights in to the physics of the sun and heliosphere , manchester england , aug 7 - 11 , 2000 , astronomical society of the pacific conference series , 200 , 595
figure 2 . 2 schematic of the heliosphere . the global heliosphere is created by the supersonic solar wind diverting the interstellar plasma flow around the sun . interstellar ions and neutral atoms flow at 26 km / s relative to the sun . the solar wind , flowing outward at 400 to 800 km / s , makes a transition to subsonic flow at the termination shock . beyond this , the solar wind is turned toward the heliotail , carrying with it the spiraling interplanetary magnetic field . the heliopause separates solar material and magnetic fields from interstellar material and magnetic fields . interstellar neutral atoms and higher - energy galactic cosmic rays can penetrate the heliosphere , but interstellar ions are diverted around it . beyond the heliopause there may also be a bow shock formed in the interstellar medium . source : jet propulsion laboratory ( 1999a ) , courtesy of steven t . suess .
linsky , j . l . , redfield , s . , and wood , b . e . : 2000 ,
the warm local ism : structure , properties , and theory
, invited talk at the fourth tetons summer conference : galactic structure , stars and the interstellar medium , jackson hole wy , may 28 - june 1 , 2000 , asp 231 , 337
the cosmic hot interstellar plasma spectrometer - - ( uc berkeley ) chips mission home page . see also the chips public education and outreach website .
p . a . isenberg , interaction of the solar wind with interstellar neutral hydrogen : three - fluid model . j . geophys . res .
in february 2012 , nasa ' s interstellar boundary explorer ( ibex ) , the centerpiece of a $ 169 million mission mapping the frontier of the sun ' s influence , detected atoms from interstellar space streaming by earth , that are different from the chemical make - up of the solar system .
besides the erosion / explosion fears , flying through even a tenuous dust cloud at 0 . 1c could create enough friction to slow down the craft like an atmospheric reentry . it would then require addition propulsion ( and time ) to regain 0 . 1c . the craft could also be thrown off course - perhaps badly off course - requiring a significant course correction and the use of more propellant , also adding time to the mission . ( this assumes the craft was designed strictly for the vacuum of space and wasn’t particularly aerodynamic . for example , enormous solar sails as currently envisioned would fare poorly with a dust cloud encounter at significant speed . ) multiply that by the number of dust clouds a craft might encounter and an interstellar mission could take much , much longer than anyone anticipated .
for example , p . caselli et al . from the harvard - smithsonian center for astrophysics presented a paper ( pdf ) on j = 1 → 0 transition of n 2 h + at 93 ghz toward the quiescent low - mass cloud core l1512 in taurus , back in 1995 . that is 18 years ago !
note : the cosmic hot interstellar plasma spectrometer ( chips ) is a university - class explorer ( unex ) mission at uc berkeley funded by nasa .
during the sun ' s journey through the galaxy it encounters a range of environments , and interstellar densities ranging from 10 - 5 to 10 5 atoms / cm 3 are observed in our galactic neighborhood . hydrodynamic simulations show that if the solar system were to enter a typical diffuse cloud with a density of 10 atoms / cm 3 , the size of the heliosphere would shrink by nearly a factor of ten , with significant effects on the interplanetary environment at 1 au . by targeting interstellar probe to fly upstream of the sun ' s motion , it will explore the future environment of the solar system over the coming decades .
astronomers call it
the local bubble .
it ' s peanut - shaped , about 300 light years long , and filled with almost nothing . gas inside the bubble is very thin ( 0 . 001 atoms per cubic centimeter ) and very hot ( a million degrees ) - - that ' s 1000 times less dense and 100 to 100 , 000 times hotter than ordinary interstellar material .
that local fluff image was apod feb 10 , 2002 . maybe one of the contact pages reachable from there may lead to an involved scientist who would just love to share his / her expertise and / or graphical and / or other data .
magnetic fields play an important ( sometimes dominant ) role in the evolution of gas clouds in the galaxy , but the strength and orientation of the field in the interstellar medium near the heliosphere has been poorly constrained . previous estimates of the field strength range from 1 . 8 - 2 . 5mug and the field was thought to be parallel to the galactic plane or inclined by 38 - 60° ( ref . 2 ) or 60 - 90° ( ref . 3 ) to this plane . these estimates relied either on indirect observational inferences or modelling in which the interstellar neutral hydrogen was not taken into account . here we report measurements of the deflection of the solar wind plasma flows in the heliosheath to determine the magnetic field strength and orientation in the interstellar medium . we find that the field strength in the local interstellar medium is 3 . 7 - 5 . 5mug . the field is tilted ~ 20 - 30° from the interstellar medium flow direction ( resulting from the peculiar motion of the sun in the galaxy ) and is at an angle of about 30° from the galactic plane . we conclude that the interstellar medium field is turbulent or has a distortion in the solar vicinity .
like interstellar neutrals , galactic cosmic rays allow us to probe the interstellar medium , with the distinction being that their origin is not necessarily local . however , unlike interstellar neutrals , galactic cosmic rays , being charged , respond to the ( electro ) magnetic structure of the heliosphere - lism interaction region . observations ( mcdonald et al . , 2000 ) and models are beginning to use galactic cosmic rays flowing into the heliosphere to infer the structure of the boundary regions . such studies can be accomplished only by spacecraft placed far out in the heliosphere since diffusion effectively washes out any signature or imprint of the heliospheric boundaries on the cosmic ray flux observed within 40 to 50 au ( florinski et al . , 2003 ) .
as i mentioned above , crawford’s paper delves deeply into the rationale for an interstellar mission , going beyond the interstellar medium question to address planetary and stellar studies and astrobiology . it’s a fascinating rationale for undertaking these studies and continuing to advocate precursor missions . and note this final caveat re alpha centauri as a destination :
the space between the stars is filled with gas and dust . spectacular displays of this interstellar medium ( ism ) can be found in star - forming regions where new stars are being created from the ism , as well as in planetary nebulae and supernova remnants where old stars are returing much of their mass back into space . i explore the region just around the sun , within approximately 100 pc , which is home to the local interstellar medium ( lism ) . here we find a suite of warm , modest density , partially ionized clouds ( see figure below ) .
right : the brightest star in the sco - cen star - forming cloud is the red giant antares , which illuminates the yellow nebula in the upper - left corner of this image . antares might be the next star to explode in sco - cen , but at 500 light years it is a safe distance from earth . [ more ]
draine , b . t . & salpeter , e . e . destruction mechanisms for interstellar dust . astrophys . j . 231 , 438–455 ( 1979 ) .
n . v . pogorelov , a . y . semenov , solar wind interaction with the magnetized interstellar medium . shock - capturing modeling . astron . astrophys .
linsky , j . l . , mobius , e . , izmodenov , v . v . , and von steiger , r . ( eds . ) : 2009 ,
from the outer heliosphere to the local bubble
, space sciences reviews , 143
“i recall reading about smoke particle shield , although i do not recall the source . once cruising speed is reached , a probe moves out significantly ahead of the main spacecraft and generates a very large cloud of smoke particles that leads the spacecraft for the entire journey . the idea is that the smoke cloud will intercept and atomize the majority of the dust particles before the main spacecraft reaches that area of space . ” hmmm . surely that would take quite a bit of dust , since the smoke would be disappated eventually and need replacing ? i suppose you could hold a plasma shield , and idea i’ve been considering – the heat to keep it ionized might come from the energy of vaporization ?
issues like this further highlight the difficulty in making interstellar voyages . it will certainly be possible , but there will be many challenges to be met by innovative ideas .
p . a . isenberg , w . c . feldman , electron - impact ionization of interstellar hydrogen and helium at interplanetary shocks . geophys . res . lett .
m . witte , kinetic parameters of interstellar neutral helium . review of results obtained during one solar cycle with the ulysses / gas - instrument . astron . astrophys .
and neutral atoms are coupled weakly but directly through various kinetic processes , these being charge exchange , photoionization , recombination , and electron - impact ionization , besides direct collisions between the neutral atoms and charged particles . the weak coupling of neutral interstellar hydrogen and plasma affects both interstellar hydrogen and plasma distributions in important ways . in the partially
as mankind begins to travel further outside the solar system , we’ll need to start thinking about how to shield ourselves from the local fluff and other gas clouds we may travel through . but for the time being , we should probably just focus on planets closer to home .
i had a look round yesterday , but i couldn ' t find any decent maps of the local fluff . you might try fitting the picture you posted to this map of our neighbourhood . it ' s approx the same scale as the fluff , 20 - 30ly .
heck , p . et al . interstellar residence times of presolar sic dust grains from the murchison carbonaceous meteorite . astrophys . j . 698 , 1155 ( 2009 ) .
linsky , jeffrey l . : 2009 ,
solving the mysteries of the diffuse interstellar medium with high - resolution spectroscopy
, astrophysics and space science , 320 , 85
the interaction of the solar wind with the local interstellar medium is characterized by the self - consistent coupling of solar wind plasma , both upstream and downstream of the heliospheric termination shock , the interstellar plasma , and the neutral atom component of interstellar and solar wind origin . the complex coupling results in the creation of new plasma components ( pickup ions ) , turbulence , and anomalous cosmic rays , and new populations of neutral atoms and their coupling can lead to energetic neutral atoms that can be detected at 1 au . in this review , we discuss the interaction and coupling of global sized structures ( the heliospheric boundary regions ) and kinetic physics ( the distributions that are responsible for the creation of energetic neutral atoms ) based on models that have been developed by the university of alabama in huntsville group .