Voyager 1 hits new region at solar system edge

[Tank]

Voyager 1 hits new region at solar system edge


NASA's Voyager 1 spacecraft has entered a new region between our solar
system and interstellar space, which scientists are calling the stagnation region.
In the stagnation region, the wind of charged particles streaming out from our
sun has slowed and turned inward for the first time, our solar system's magnetic
field has piled up and higher-energy particles from inside our solar system
appear to be leaking out into interstellar space. This image shows that the
inner edge of the stagnation region is located about 113 astronomical units
(10.5 billion miles or 16.9 billion kilometers) from the sun. Voyager 1 is
currently about 119 astronomical units (11 billion miles or 17.8 billion kilometers)
from the sun. The distance to the outer edge is unknown. Image credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech

"Voyager tells us now that we're in a stagnation region in the outermost layer of the bubble around our solar system," said Ed Stone, Voyager project scientist at the California Institute of Technology in Pasadena. "Voyager is showing that what is outside is pushing back. We shouldn't have long to wait to find out what the space between stars is really like."

Although Voyager 1 is about 11 billion miles (18 billion kilometers) from the sun, it is not yet in interstellar space. In the latest data, the direction of the magnetic field lines has not changed, indicating Voyager is still within the heliosphere, the bubble of charged particles the sun blows around itself. The data do not reveal exactly when Voyager 1 will make it past the edge of the solar atmosphere into interstellar space, but suggest it will be in a few months to a few years.

Fantastic science at its best.

[McQ]

Love this. Thanks for posting!

[Asmodean]

Has taken it a few years, but now, that which The Asmo calls cool is about to begin. Interstellar space... NICE! 

[Sandra Craft]

"Voyager tells us now that we're in a stagnation region in the outermost layer of the bubble around our solar system," said Ed Stone, Voyager project scientist at the California Institute of Technology in Pasadena. "Voyager is showing that what is outside is pushing back. We shouldn't have long to wait to find out what the space between stars is really like."

Although Voyager 1 is about 11 billion miles (18 billion kilometers) from the sun, it is not yet in interstellar space. In the latest data, the direction of the magnetic field lines has not changed, indicating Voyager is still within the heliosphere, the bubble of charged particles the sun blows around itself. The data do not reveal exactly when Voyager 1 will make it past the edge of the solar atmosphere into interstellar space, but suggest it will be in a few months to a few years.

Fantastic science at its best.

Literally gave me chills when I read it.  How I wish we had the money to spend on more of this, instead of throwing it away on endless wars.

[hismikeness]

This Voyager probe has to be considered one of the greatest scientific success stories of all time, right?

From Wikipedia link.

The primary mission ended November 20, 1980, after encountering the Jovian system in 1979 and the Saturnian system in 1980.

The mission is 31 years past its original planned ending!

[Ecurb Noselrub]

Literally gave me chills when I read it.  How I wish we had the money to spend on more of this, instead of throwing it away on endless wars.

Back to my idea.  Since there is always money for war, we need to declare war on Al Qaeda, which is now attempting to occupy interstellar space.  We MUST go there and chase them!

[Sandra Craft]

Literally gave me chills when I read it.  How I wish we had the money to spend on more of this, instead of throwing it away on endless wars.

Back to my idea.  Since there is always money for war, we need to declare war on Al Qaeda, which is now attempting to occupy interstellar space.  We MUST go there and chase them!

Yes, who is the top terror guy now?  There must be some way of planting evidence for him hiding out among Saturn's rings.

[Sweetdeath]

Literally gave me chills when I read it.  How I wish we had the money to spend on more of this, instead of throwing it away on endless wars.

Back to my idea.  Since there is always money for war, we need to declare war on Al Qaeda, which is now attempting to occupy interstellar space.  We MUST go there and chase them!

DO it, do it now.
Or say the Borg is out there. ... Just saying.