Is Voyager 1 Approaching the Oort Cloud?

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Voyager 1, launched in 1977, is approximately 10 billion miles from Earth and nearing the heliopause. At its current velocity of about 38,000 mph, it will take roughly 300 years to reach the outer limits of the Oort Cloud, not 3 million years as previously suggested. The Oort Cloud is believed to extend from about 2,000 to 100,000 astronomical units from the Sun, making Voyager's journey significant in understanding our solar system's boundaries. The discussion highlights the importance of accurate speed calculations, as one participant noted that the initial speed estimate was drastically overestimated. Voyager 1's ongoing mission continues to provide valuable insights into the outer reaches of our solar system.
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Voyager 1 launched in 1977 is ~10^10 miles out, near heliopause. Continuing at it's current velocity (3x 10^8 mph), for 3300 yrs (100x current 33 yrs), then it will be out ~10^-2 lyrs; that is approaching Oort Cloud outer gravitation limits of our stellar system?

http://blog.seattlepi.com/americanaerospace/archives/220421.asp
 
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