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Voyager spacecraft nears exit of solar system
AFP ^ | 121410 | AFP

Posted on 12/14/2010 8:59:21 AM PST by Artemis Webb

WASHINGTON (AFP) – NASA's Voyager 1 spacecraft has reached the outer edge of the solar system where wind from the Sun is no longer blowing outward, but sideways, the US space agency said.

The spacecraft was launched in 1977 and has since snapped images of Earth and other planets in the solar system and provided NASA with crucial information as it makes its long journey into outer space.

NASA researchers think Voyager 1 will leave the solar system and enter interstellar space, or the area in between the end of the Sun's influence and the next star system, in about four years.

For now, Voyager 1 is 17.4 billion kilometers (10.8 billion miles) from the Sun in "an area where the velocity of the hot ionized gas, or plasma, emanating directly outward from the sun has slowed to zero," the space agency said.

"Scientists suspect the solar wind has been turned sideways by the pressure from the interstellar wind in the region between stars."

NASA noticed that the solar wind's outward speed had slowed to zero back in June, but wanted to look at readings from Voyager 1 over the next four months to be sure.

(Excerpt) Read more at news.yahoo.com ...


TOPICS: Astronomy; Science
KEYWORDS: heliopause; voyager; xplanets
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1 posted on 12/14/2010 8:59:25 AM PST by Artemis Webb
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To: Artemis Webb

soon to be Veger?


2 posted on 12/14/2010 9:01:04 AM PST by al baby (Hi Mom REMEMBER FREE REPUBLIC IN YOUR WILL. I DID)
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To: Artemis Webb

Soon to be V’ger?


3 posted on 12/14/2010 9:02:41 AM PST by al baby (Hi Mom REMEMBER FREE REPUBLIC IN YOUR WILL. I DID)
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To: al baby

Whatever happened to the girl and guy after they became one? There was a monster explosion and then the Enterprise came into view.


4 posted on 12/14/2010 9:02:48 AM PST by Doc Savage (Stay Thirsty My Friend!!)
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To: Artemis Webb

Someone alert Steven Collins!!!!!


5 posted on 12/14/2010 9:03:23 AM PST by RexBeach
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To: Artemis Webb

The gate is down.


6 posted on 12/14/2010 9:06:55 AM PST by Jolla
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To: Artemis Webb

The universe is one big “being”. The Solar system is one atom. Voyager is a cancer cell. Just a thought.


7 posted on 12/14/2010 9:08:03 AM PST by Terry Mross ( Reagan made one mistake: He chose Bush as his veep. We've been paying for it ever since.)
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To: SunkenCiv

/mark


8 posted on 12/14/2010 9:10:35 AM PST by KoRn (Department of Homeland Security, Certified - "Right Wing Extremist")
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To: Artemis Webb

sounds like they are still in communication with it. thats astounding. i wonder how long it takes to get a message back?


9 posted on 12/14/2010 9:14:57 AM PST by beebuster2000
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To: Artemis Webb

Cruising along at just Warp 3 would mean we could catch it in just over half an hour.

It is about 12 billion miles out.

Warp 3 is 27 times the speed of light.


10 posted on 12/14/2010 9:16:53 AM PST by macquire
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To: beebuster2000

About 17 hours.


11 posted on 12/14/2010 9:17:37 AM PST by macquire
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To: beebuster2000
Well, we know the distance, 17.4 billion kilometers, or 10.8 billion miles, and the speed of light in metric (299,792.458 km/second) or 'mer'can (186,232 mi/second), so it's not hard to figure out it takes:

58,000 seconds, or 970 minutes, or 16.1 hours to send a signal to Vejur, and the same time for Vejur to talk back.

You can call that 16 light-hours if you like.

12 posted on 12/14/2010 9:21:42 AM PST by sturmde
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To: macquire

You’re using the TOS formula, the TNG formula would put Warp 3 at 38.94 times the speed of light. More bang for the buck with Geordi. Then again, I think Scotty was just underestimating all along!


13 posted on 12/14/2010 9:24:21 AM PST by sturmde
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To: Terry Mross

“The universe is one big “being”. The Solar system is one atom. Voyager is a cancer cell. Just a thought”
_______________________________________________________________________

Far-out man. That is so psychedelic.

Can somebody please cue up a woodstock photo. And then pick up my cleaning and get my car washed.

Thanks a mil......


14 posted on 12/14/2010 9:26:13 AM PST by NeverForgetBataan (To the German Commander: ..........................NUTS !)
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To: sturmde

I believe Scotty admitted as much.


15 posted on 12/14/2010 9:28:42 AM PST by AFreeBird
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To: NeverForgetBataan

LOL


16 posted on 12/14/2010 9:29:58 AM PST by Terry Mross ( Reagan made one mistake: He chose Bush as his veep. We've been paying for it ever since.)
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To: macquire

That’s on the old scale, on the new (TNG) one it’s about 39 times the speed of light.


17 posted on 12/14/2010 9:34:35 AM PST by Raymann
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To: Terry Mross

And just think it ALL “evolved” in 3,4 or 5 or so billion years after a “Big Bang”.


18 posted on 12/14/2010 9:35:36 AM PST by US Navy Vet
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To: Terry Mross

As depicted at the end of a MIB movie I suspect we may be but a marble to a much larger thingy. Let’s hope were not knocked off the table and stepped on :-(


19 posted on 12/14/2010 9:41:42 AM PST by mcshot (The golfing dude's grandmother knows where he was born - ask her.)
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To: Artemis Webb
“Send more Chuck Berry!”
20 posted on 12/14/2010 9:43:25 AM PST by fungoking (Tis a blessing to live in the Ozarks.)
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