Spacecraft reaches edge of solar system: CNN

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the Voyager 1 spacecraft's journey to the edge of the solar system, including its current status, the scientific implications of its distance traveled, and the nature of the data it is sending back. Participants explore the definitions of the solar system and the significance of Voyager's findings, particularly in relation to the heliopause and the boundaries of the Kuiper Belt and Oort Cloud.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants note that Voyager 1 has traveled 8.4 billion miles, marking a significant milestone for man-made objects.
  • There is a discussion about whether Voyager is still within the solar system, depending on the definitions used (e.g., inclusion of the Oort Cloud).
  • One participant questions whether Voyager is sending back images, to which another clarifies that it is sending back data instead.
  • A claim is made regarding Voyager crossing the heliopause, prompting requests for clarification on this assertion.
  • Concerns are raised about the cold conditions in space and the speed of Voyager's travel, which is noted to be one million miles a day.
  • There is mention of radio signals thought to be from the heliopause, but uncertainty remains about the exact location of the termination shock and its implications for the spacecraft's behavior.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express differing views on the definitions of the solar system and the status of Voyager 1's journey, indicating that multiple competing views remain. The discussion about the heliopause also reflects uncertainty and a lack of consensus on the claim presented.

Contextual Notes

Limitations include the ambiguity surrounding the definitions of the solar system and the heliopause, as well as unresolved questions about the data being sent back by Voyager 1.

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I thought it had been going through space which hadn't been explored before for the last 10 years or so...
 
Don't you think it's a little cold out there?
And one million miles a day? That's REALLY fast.
Is this thing sending back any images?
 
Last edited:
Originally posted by StephenPrivitera
Is this thing sending back any images?

Images, no. Data, yes.
(I could provide a link but it isn't working at the moment...I'll try to post it later.)
 
Voyager 1's journey marks a major scientific milestone: For the first time, a man-made object has traveled 8.4 billion miles (13.5 billion kilometers), about 90 times the distance between the Earth and sun.

90 AU is well past the orbit of the outermost planet (Pluto @ 39.5 AU)
but it is still potentially inside the Kuiper Belt (30 to 100 AU from the sun) and certainly well inside the suspected distance of the Oort Cloud (10's of thousands of AU). So, if you define the solar system to include the Oort Cloud, Voyager is still within the solar system. If you're only concerned about the 9 planets, then Voyager is long gone.

Either way, the Voyager program was a screaming success.
 
I saw somewhere that Voyager had crossed the heliopause. Could you discuss this claim?
 
Originally posted by selfAdjoint
I saw somewhere that Voyager had crossed the heliopause. Could you discuss this claim?

I had not heard that. I know V1 was picking up radio signals thought to be coming from the heliopause, but the exact location of the termination shock was still a mystery, last I heard. I also think that these radio waves, or more likely some related electromagnetic phenomenon may be responsible for the mysterious deceleration of the Voyager and Pioneer probes.
 

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