[Robert Schunk]

Per NASA's press release (http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/vo...r20120614.html) of 14 June 2012, interstellar cosmic rays are striking the spacecraft at an increased rate. Voyager 1 has already encountered solar wind moving laterally with respect to the solar surface, and even in net retrograde motion with respect to the solar surface, which would mean that she's passed through the limit of solar influence capable of deflecting the interstellar medium, and has observed the interstellar medium deflecting solar influence. If the density of charged particles in the vicinity of the spacecraft has INCREASED, then this can only mean that she is currently in the "bow shock", which is where interstellar winds would tend to pile up in front of the solar system as it flies through interstellar space. (Think of a ship passing through the water: water is incompressible, so the energy of the ship passing through the water can only be expressed as a shift in the volume of the water immediately adjacent to the ship's bow (the "bow wave"). In a similar fashion, interstellar winds would tend to pile up in front of the solar system as an expression of aerodynamic pressure/aerodynamic drag.) If she's within the "bow shock", then she's within the interstellar medium, and no longer within the solar system.

Just think of that! An object crafted by human hands is now flying in interstellar space, outside the solar system! Elvis has truly left the building!

Three cheers for Voyager 1:

Hip! Hip! HOORAY!
Hip! Hip! HOORAY!
Hip! Hip! HOORAY!

[SuchFriendsAreDangerous]

Originally Posted by Robert Schunk

Per NASA's press release ( If the density of charged particles in the vicinity of the spacecraft has INCREASED, then this can only mean that she is currently in the "bow shock", which is where interstellar winds would tend to pile up in front of the solar system as it flies through interstellar space. (Think of a ship passing through the water: water is incompressible, so the energy of the ship passing through the water can only be expressed as a shift in the volume of the water immediately adjacent to the ship's bow (the "bow wave"). In a similar fashion, interstellar winds would tend to pile up in front of the solar system as an expression of aerodynamic pressure/aerodynamic drag.) If she's within the "bow shock", then she's within the interstellar medium, and no longer within the solar system.

Is this bow shock similar to what causes the Sun's corona to be one of the hottest places in the universe at 2 million degrees? Very interesting.. Of course, how can we really be sure all this isn't just some convenient conspiracy to support NASA spending plans? Honestly, I am always skeptical of what seems preposterous. So Voyager has travelled outside of the influence of the Sun, and yet is still in range for radio communication on 1970s technology which most pocket calculator are ages beyond?

[gast30]

interesting

[floatingslowly]

It hasn't yet passed heliopause.

Prepare for V'GER.

[Robert Schunk]

SuchFriendsAreDangerous:

Solar winds near the sun's surface are, by a VERY large margin, the most powerful influence in that locality. What makes the near-surface corona so hot is the fact that photons released due to the fusion of hydrogen into helium at the solar core are finally free to move through the near-vacuum of exosolar space, such that they reach Earth a little over 8 minutes after they enter this space, whereas, from the time the photons are released in the solar core until the time they reach the surface takes about 150,000 years.

Furthermore, the entire heliosphere constitutes the solar corona. Earth lies quite deep within the solar corona. My whole argument is that Voyager 1 has just observed the outermost surface of the solar corona (the heliopause), and has passed beyond.

Seventies technology was quite capable of constructing radios, and radio waves are, after all, just light. Space cannot stop light; matter might block it and large masses might bend its path, but, seeing as the solar system consists mostly of empty space, there's really nothing to block light from the tiny radio aboard Voyager 1 from reaching Earth.

Learn physics, man!

[floatingslowly]

smackdown

[floatingslowly]

Originally Posted by SuchFriendsAreDangerous

So Voyager has travelled outside of the influence of the Sun, and yet is still in range for radio communication on 1970s technology which most pocket calculator are ages beyond?

There are a thousand tired-memes, provided by humanity, from which I could post as a response to this flabbergastingly backward statement; however, I will simply quote you, leaving it unedited, permanently, so that the Catlords from Zeta IX simply pass your planet, depriving you of cancer-cures and quadraphotic Gnishi porn.

Shame.

[ink.]

Those new insane NASA spending plans. What do they want next.A pony?

[SuchFriendsAreDangerous]

Originally Posted by Robert Schunk

SuchFriendsAreDangerous:
whereas, from the time the photons are released in the solar core until the time they reach the surface takes about 150,000 years.

chaos is a bitch like that. thanks for the lesson

[Pookie]

Couldn't they at least send another space rocket out there to double check?

[Robert Schunk]

Originally Posted by Pookie

Couldn't they at least send another space rocket out there to double check?

Voyager 2 was actually launched BEFORE Voyager 1. Voyager 2 constitutes the double-check, although I really don't know when she's scheduled to reach the heliopause.

[Robert Schunk]

Originally Posted by SuchFriendsAreDangerous

chaos is a bitch like that. thanks for the lesson

Nice to know someone's actually listening!

Good on ya, mate!!!!

[EVOLghost]

Originally Posted by Robert Schunk

Nice to know someone's actually listening!

Good on ya, mate!!!!

I think you mean

"God bless mon"

[floatingslowly]

Nyabinghi!

[!@#$%!]

Originally Posted by Robert Schunk

NASA

Wait, isn't NASA an AMERICAN space agency, and therefore the Voyager a rebel vessel that could be rightfully seized by the Queen of England?

What are you cheering for, you space-pirate lover?

[floatingslowly]

It shall be rechristened...Victoriager.

[SuchFriendsAreDangerous]

Originally Posted by !@#$%!

Wait, isn't NASA and AMERICAN space agency, and therefore the Voyager a rebel vessel that could be rightfully seized by the Queen of England?

What are you cheering for, you space pirate lover?

 

Sir Francis Drake to the rescue!!

Originally Posted by floatingslowly

Nyabinghi!

hotta fyah red red!

[floatingslowly]

Two years, and still, zero meridional flow. 7.5 AU of nothing.

Dude, where's my heliopause???