Has Voyager 1 left the Solar System?

Posted by Bruce Betts

2013/09/12 07:26 CDT

Topics: explaining science, Planetary Society Video, Voyager 1 and 2

Has Voyager 1 left the Solar System? Today NASA announced that after much scientific study and deliberation, the Voyager science team has agreed that Voyager 1 entered interstellar space about a year ago. Congratulations! But, what does that mean? And, did it leave the solar system? Check out this short video discussing the answers, as well as addressing the proper pronunciation of Oort Cloud...for a sea lion.

Has Voyager 1 left the Solar System?

Has Voyager 1 left the Solar System? What does it mean that it has entered interstellar space? Bruce Betts discusses the answers in this short video.

Comments:

Bob Ware: 09/12/2013 08:01 CDT

Okay that was simple enough to grasp. Thanks. So now do we need to redefine the solar system boundary description to include the gravity zone which extends post 1,000,000 AU or not? So we technically are in interstellar space {yea! : ) } but we are not star flight bound yet. : ( -- gravity pulled on my smile! LOL!! At least we are getting some fantastic sneak peak at what is actually out there. Would not it be great to have Solar Sail Flight Test 1 work and then send Solar Sail Flight Test 2 on a mission out that there?!

Bob Ware: 09/12/2013 08:21 CDT

...however the sunlight pressure may be to low to make that happen.

Frank: 09/14/2013 12:34 CDT

Would like to let Dr. Edward Stone know of the launch control panel from Complex 40-41 used for the Titan IIIC and IV rockets that launched the Voyagers is on public display on high shelf at Skycraft Surplus Parts on Fairbanks and I-4 in Central Florida. Please-Please-Please do not make public before he gets a chance to see it or it will vanish for sure. I have photos of the panel and display card. Kind regards.