Launchedin 1977, Voyager 1 is now about 12 light-hoursor 90 astronomicalunits AU) from theSun, making this spacecraft humanity's mos distant ambassador to the cosmos.Well beyond the orbits of the outer planets, Voyager 1is believed to b enteringthe realm of deep spacenear the edge o theheliosphere, the region dominated bythe solar wind and magnetic field Causingsome debate, new results from instruments stilloperating have given indications that the spacecraftcould finally be encountering a fluctuatingboundary known as the solar wind's termination shock.Illustrated above, the bubble-shaped termination shock isproduced when th wind from the Sun slows dramaticallyand piles up as it runs in to the tenuous interstellar gas.Still farther out, beyon the heliopause,solar wind and interstellar gas begin to mix,while the heliosphere's motion through interstellar space create a bow shock, analogous toa boat moving through water.Estimates are that both Voyager 1 and 2 have enoughpower and fuel to operate until about the year 2020.The spacecraft continue to coast toward interstellar spaceat over 3 AU per year.
0 comments:
Post a Comment