How fast must Voyager travel to leave the solar system?

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SUMMARY

The Voyager spacecraft are traveling at 15 km/s relative to the Sun, which is sufficient to escape the Sun's gravitational influence, defined as having surpassed the escape velocity of 617.5 km/s. Although the Sun's gravitational influence extends indefinitely, the Voyagers are not in orbit around the Sun. The discussion also highlights that the estimated galactic escape velocity relative to the Sun is 550 km/s, raising questions about the escape velocities of the solar system and galaxy.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of gravitational influence and escape velocity
  • Familiarity with the Voyager spacecraft and their mission
  • Basic knowledge of celestial mechanics
  • Awareness of galactic structures and dynamics
NEXT STEPS
  • Research the concept of escape velocity in different celestial contexts
  • Explore the trajectory and velocity profiles of the Voyager probes
  • Investigate the gravitational influence of nearby stars on interstellar objects
  • Learn about the Milky Way's structure and its escape velocity parameters
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Astronomers, astrophysicists, space enthusiasts, and anyone interested in the dynamics of interstellar travel and gravitational physics.

SPB COOPERATOR
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I have read articles about the Voyager probes leaving the solar system (or not) depending on what definition is used. So, another definition - do the Voyagers have sufficient velocity to escape the Sun's gravitati0nal influence?
 
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SPB COOPERATOR said:
...do the Voyagers have sufficient velocity to escape the Sun's gravitati0nal influence?
Yes.
 
Technically, the Sun's gravitational influence extends indefinitely. The Voyager spacecraft , however, are not in an orbit of the Sun - they have more than what is known as the escape velocity. Eventually, the primary gravitational influence will be another nearby star.
 
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Ooops I overlooked the point the the Sun's Ve of 617.5 km/s is from the sun itself, not the solar system. Does the solar system itself have Ve and even the galaxy itself?
 
SPB COOPERATOR said:
Ooops I overlooked the point the the Sun's Ve of 617.5 km/s is from the sun itself, not the solar system. Does the solar system itself have Ve and even the galaxy itself?
This page gives you an estimated galactic escape velocity relative to the Sun of 550 km/s:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Milky_Way

Voyager is traveling at ##15 km/s## relative to the Sun.
 

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