IBEX ENA Ribbon Feature (What Does it All Mean?)

Image Credit: SwRI

Original Caption: Illustrates one of the possibilities for the bright ribbon of emission seen in the IBEX ENA maps. The galactic magnetic field shapes the heliosphere as it drapes over it. The ribbon appears to trace the area where the magnetic field is most parallel to the surface of the heliosphere (the heliopause).

See:
NASA Spacecraft Provides First View of Our Place in the Galaxy
IBEX Explores Galactic Frontier, Releases First-Ever All-Sky Map
IBEX NASA Science Update Visuals