Interstellar Voyager

Astronomy Picture of the Day · 2022-09-09 · NASA (public domain)

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Interstellar Voyager — APOD for 2022-09-09

Voyager 1 and Voyager 2 were launched in 1977 on a grand tour of the outer planets of the Solar System . They have become the longest operating and most distant spacecraft from Earth . Both have traveled beyond the heliosphere , the realm defined by the influence of the solar wind and the Sun's magnetic field. On the 45th year of their journey toward the stars Voyager 1 and 2 reached nearly 22 light-hours and 18 light-hours from the Sun respectively and remain the only spacecraft currently exploring interstellar space. Each spacecraft carries a 12-inch gold-plated copper disk with recordings of sounds, pictures and messages. The Golden Records are intended to communicate a story of life and culture on planet Earth, preserved in a medium that can survive an interstellar journey for a billion years .

Astronomy Picture of the Day for 2022-09-09 — image & explanation courtesy of NASA (public domain), mirrored at Tukuk-OS for reading and search convenience.

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