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Voyager 2 Probe Reaches Solar System Boundary
New Scientist ^ | 12-10-2007 | David Shiga

Posted on 12/10/2007 11:27:15 AM PST by blam

Voyager 2 probe reaches solar system boundary

18:25 10 December 2007
NewScientist.com news service
David Shiga

The Voyager 2 spacecraft has crossed an important space frontier called the termination shock, and in a few years may become the first object made by humans to travel outside the solar system.

NASA's two Voyager spacecraft were launched in 1977 to tour the outer solar system. They are now far beyond the orbits of the outermost planets and heading towards interstellar space.

In 2004, the faster of the two spacecraft, Voyager 1, became the first human-made object to reach a boundary called the termination shock. There, the solar wind – made of charged particles from the Sun – suddenly falters as it feels pressure from gas in the interstellar medium lying outside the solar system.

But scientists missed observing the crucial moment because the sensitive radio dishes on Earth needed to hear the spacecraft's transmissions did not happen to be listening at the time.

That's because the dishes are in high demand for other missions, such as Cassini, and therefore cannot listen to the Voyagers around the clock. The Voyagers cannot store their observations onboard, so they are lost forever if they are not relayed to Earth as they are made.

Now, Voyager 2 has crossed the same boundary, and this time scientists were lucky enough to be listening when it happened.

Pushing the boundary

The spacecraft crossed the boundary on 30 August 2007 at a distance of 84 astronomical units (AU) from the Sun (1 AU is the distance between the Earth and Sun). By comparison, Pluto is now about 32 AU from the Sun.

(Excerpt) Read more at space.newscientist.com ...


TOPICS: News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: boundary; probe; space; voyager2; xplanets
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1 posted on 12/10/2007 11:27:17 AM PST by blam
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To: blam

The termination shock lies at a boundary where the solar wind – made of charged particles from the Sun – suddenly falters as it feels pressure from gas in the interstellar medium (Illustration: NASA/Feimer)

2 posted on 12/10/2007 11:29:39 AM PST by blam (Secure the border and enforce the law)
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To: KevinDavis

ping


3 posted on 12/10/2007 11:30:27 AM PST by saganite
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To: blam

Just remember - Vger comes back.


4 posted on 12/10/2007 11:31:45 AM PST by Titus Quinctius Cincinnatus (Conservatives - Freedom WITH responsibility; Libertarians - Freedom FROM responsibility)
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To: blam
And my dad said this could never happen. Just a matter of time before Veeger destroys all of us!
5 posted on 12/10/2007 11:32:02 AM PST by Holicheese (1-21-09 Hillary starts to destroy America!)
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To: blam
But scientists missed observing the crucial moment because the sensitive radio dishes on Earth needed to hear the spacecraft's transmissions did not happen to be listening at the time.

Do not believe this. The event has been awaited and an article a couple weeks ago said they are listening intently.

6 posted on 12/10/2007 11:32:13 AM PST by RightWhale (anti-razors are pro-life)
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To: blam

Thanks for the post Blam. Quite interesting...


7 posted on 12/10/2007 11:34:32 AM PST by DoughtyOne (California, where the death penalty is reserved for wholesome values. SB 777)
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To: blam

THX, good post


8 posted on 12/10/2007 11:34:50 AM PST by Red6 (Come and take it.)
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To: Titus Quinctius Cincinnatus

9 posted on 12/10/2007 11:35:24 AM PST by evets (beer)
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To: blam

Too bad Hillary’s fat arse...and Obama’s dumb arse weren’t strapped to the thing...


10 posted on 12/10/2007 11:35:34 AM PST by in hoc signo vinces ("Houston, TX...a waiting quagmire for jihadis.")
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To: RightWhale

They heard this one. That refers to the one in 2004.


11 posted on 12/10/2007 11:35:56 AM PST by Rastus
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To: RightWhale
Yea I don't believe that for a second.

As if the one guy listening decided get a coffee? Right. They had a bunch of people listening to dead air for 24/7 a week before the event and they are probably still listening right now.

12 posted on 12/10/2007 11:36:04 AM PST by Domandred (Eagles soar, but unfortunately weasels never get sucked into jet engines)
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To: RightWhale

The article was referring to Voyager I which crossed the boundary in 2004. I think you’e referring to Voyager II which is crossing the barrier now.


13 posted on 12/10/2007 11:36:06 AM PST by saganite
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To: Rastus

Right you are!


14 posted on 12/10/2007 11:37:22 AM PST by RightWhale (anti-razors are pro-life)
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To: blam

30 years and still working. Not bad at all.


15 posted on 12/10/2007 11:37:26 AM PST by Paradox (Politics: The art of convincing the populace that your delusions are superior to others.)
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To: blam

“scientists were lucky enough to be listening when it happened.”

They don’t say what it sounded like, but I bet it wasn’t much of a change.


16 posted on 12/10/2007 11:40:22 AM PST by Brilliant
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To: blam

It’s astounding that we can pick up signals at that distance!


17 posted on 12/10/2007 11:40:46 AM PST by AU72
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To: evets

I can’t believe you beat me to it!!!


18 posted on 12/10/2007 11:40:53 AM PST by Holicheese (1-21-09 Hillary starts to destroy America!)
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To: blam
Hmmm. What do they think will happen when the V’ger’s hit the bow shock?
19 posted on 12/10/2007 11:41:54 AM PST by colorado tanker
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To: colorado tanker

The space dolphins will chatter with delight.


20 posted on 12/10/2007 11:44:09 AM PST by Shermy (Bet the house on red)
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