46 year old Voyager 1 once again sending real data

[sophiecentaur]

I managed to get us down a bit of rabbit hole here. My initial point was that the ISL is useful. Doubling the distance has the same effect, whether it's from 100 to 200km or from 1LY to 2LY. Compare that with the best RF feeder you can find, which will lose you 1dB for every 100m or even the losses in atmospheric links.

 

[Nik_2213]

IIRC, one of the surprises has been how much / how far the solar heliopause fluctuates. Not just tied to sun-spot cycle and flares / CMEs, but 'gusts' of galactic 'wind'. Further out, in 'genuine' interstellar environment, you get into 'Local Bubble', with conditions significantly modified by a bunch of supernovas...

IIRC, our solar system entered 'Local Bubble' about 5 million years ago, crossing the 'firewall' embedding super-nova derived iron isotopes in ancient ice...

FWIW, I've used this as a possible solution to the 'Where Are They' conundrum...
'Of Filters and Firewalls...' Post #15 in...
https://www.physicsforums.com/threads/the-short-story-thread-post-yours-here.914630/

 

[difalcojr]

The record is probably still affixed, showing earth's location, music, pictures, sounds, music. Think Johnny B. Goode was deciphered by an alien already, possibly.