ZME Science
No Result
View All Result
ZME Science
No Result
View All Result
ZME Science

Home → Space → Astronomy

NASA’s Voyager 1 Explores Final Frontier of Our ‘Solar Bubble’

Mihai AndreibyMihai Andrei
July 1, 2013
in Astronomy, Astrophysics, Space
A A
Share on FacebookShare on TwitterSubmit to Reddit

RelatedPosts

New NASA alloy is 1000 times more durable than what’s currently used in spacecraft
Could bacteria take up jobs mining in space? Turns out, they could
Scientists find a way to genetically modify cats that don’t cause allergies
New species of crocodile found in Africa right under our snout

The Voyager 1 has truly gone where no man has gone before – the brave shuttle is now more than 11 billion miles (18 billion kilometers) from the sun, closer and closer to becoming the first man-made object to reach interstellar space.

To me, it’s just baffling that we sent something 18 billion kilometers from the sun – just so you can make an idea, the distance between the Sun and the Earth is approximately 150 million km; and it’s still providing valuable data! A new research using data from the Voyager 1 showed was published in the journal Science today, offering details on the last region the spacecraft will cross before it leaves the heliosphere, or the bubble around our sun, and enters interstellar space.

Currently, Voyager 1 is in a region called the ‘magnetic highway’ – a region of charged particles which exists because our sun’s magnetic field lines are connected to interstellar magnetic field lines.

“This strange, last region before interstellar space is coming into focus, thanks to Voyager 1, humankind’s most distant scout,” said Ed Stone, Voyager project scientist at the California Institute of Technology in Pasadena. “If you looked at the cosmic ray and energetic particle data in isolation, you might think Voyager had reached interstellar space, but the team feels Voyager 1 has not yet gotten there because we are still within the domain of the sun’s magnetic field.”

So when will Voyager actually leave the solar system and reach interstellar space? It’s not really certain – it’s not like there’s a big border around the solar system. Astronomers believe it will take at least a few months, and possibly a couple of years. The Voyager 1 spacecraft was launched by NASA on September 5, 1977.

Via NASA

ShareTweetShare
Mihai Andrei

Mihai Andrei

Dr. Andrei Mihai is a geophysicist and founder of ZME Science. He has a Ph.D. in geophysics and archaeology and has completed courses from prestigious universities (with programs ranging from climate and astronomy to chemistry and geology). He is passionate about making research more accessible to everyone and communicating news and features to a broad audience.

Related Posts

Science

Buried in a Pot, Preserved by Time: Ancient Egyptian Skeleton Yields First Full Genome

byMihai Andrei
7 hours ago
Archaeology

AI Helped Decode a 3,000-Year-Old Babylonian Hymn That Describes a City More Welcoming Than You’d Expect

byTibi Puiu
8 hours ago
Chemistry

Peeling Tape Creates Microlightning Strong Enough To Power Chemistry

byTibi Puiu
8 hours ago
News

Menstrual Cups Passed a Brutal Space Test. They Could Finally Fix a Major Problem for Many Astronauts

byTibi Puiu
9 hours ago

Recent news

Buried in a Pot, Preserved by Time: Ancient Egyptian Skeleton Yields First Full Genome

July 3, 2025

AI Helped Decode a 3,000-Year-Old Babylonian Hymn That Describes a City More Welcoming Than You’d Expect

July 3, 2025

Peeling Tape Creates Microlightning Strong Enough To Power Chemistry

July 3, 2025
  • About
  • Advertise
  • Editorial Policy
  • Privacy Policy and Terms of Use
  • How we review products
  • Contact

© 2007-2025 ZME Science - Not exactly rocket science. All Rights Reserved.

No Result
View All Result
  • Science News
  • Environment
  • Health
  • Space
  • Future
  • Features
    • Natural Sciences
    • Physics
      • Matter and Energy
      • Quantum Mechanics
      • Thermodynamics
    • Chemistry
      • Periodic Table
      • Applied Chemistry
      • Materials
      • Physical Chemistry
    • Biology
      • Anatomy
      • Biochemistry
      • Ecology
      • Genetics
      • Microbiology
      • Plants and Fungi
    • Geology and Paleontology
      • Planet Earth
      • Earth Dynamics
      • Rocks and Minerals
      • Volcanoes
      • Dinosaurs
      • Fossils
    • Animals
      • Mammals
      • Birds
      • Fish
      • Amphibians
      • Reptiles
      • Invertebrates
      • Pets
      • Conservation
      • Animal facts
    • Climate and Weather
      • Climate change
      • Weather and atmosphere
    • Health
      • Drugs
      • Diseases and Conditions
      • Human Body
      • Mind and Brain
      • Food and Nutrition
      • Wellness
    • History and Humanities
      • Anthropology
      • Archaeology
      • History
      • Economics
      • People
      • Sociology
    • Space & Astronomy
      • The Solar System
      • Sun
      • The Moon
      • Planets
      • Asteroids, meteors & comets
      • Astronomy
      • Astrophysics
      • Cosmology
      • Exoplanets & Alien Life
      • Spaceflight and Exploration
    • Technology
      • Computer Science & IT
      • Engineering
      • Inventions
      • Sustainability
      • Renewable Energy
      • Green Living
    • Culture
    • Resources
  • Videos
  • Reviews
  • About Us
    • About
    • The Team
    • Advertise
    • Contribute
    • Editorial policy
    • Privacy Policy
    • Contact

© 2007-2025 ZME Science - Not exactly rocket science. All Rights Reserved.