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Post by Red Rackham on Dec 5, 2023 19:23:29 GMT
now I've banged on about the voyager programme before and I make no apologies. I find it incredible that after 47 years they're still going, they're 15 billion miles from Earth and JPL are still receiving information from both Voyager 1 and 2, it's just incredible. Many of the instruments have been closed down to preserve power in an attempt to extend the crafts life expectancy to 2027 so we can celebrate 50 years of transmissions.
Both craft have now left the solar system and are in interstellar space, no human made object has ever travelled this far, yet their journey has hardly begun. In c300 years the Voyagers will enter the Oort cloud, it will take them c3000 years to pass through it. The Voyagers will still be travelling the universe long after life has ended on Earth, indeed long after Earth has ceased to exist.
I would like to think that some intelligent life form at some point in the distant future will be able to understand the information the Voyagers have about planet Earth and humanity.
There are much longer videos for anyone who's interested, this is only 20 mins and imo well worth a watch. Edit: The video I wanted to post has for some reason been disabled, but there are many more...
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Post by Vanna on Dec 6, 2023 6:21:55 GMT
Thanks Red.  Quite sad that they are going away forever, but then, so are we if we are not careful. |
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Post by Vinny on Dec 6, 2023 9:48:28 GMT
It's fascinating really to think that long after our lifetime, they'll still be crossing space, they'll still be on mission.
It takes over a day to communicate with either Voyager now, and most systems have been shut down to save power, but, an amazing project.
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Post by johnofgwent on Dec 6, 2023 10:48:07 GMT
They are powered by the most toxic to life material on olanet earth, plutonium.
I will be long dead but our descendants may one day find the equivalent of a Vogon Bulldozer in the Clarke belt with a demand from some federation’s equivalent if Saddo Khan’t that this unlicenced pollutant has wreaked havoc in the cosmos and it’s time to face the consequences
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Post by Deleted on Dec 6, 2023 14:42:59 GMT
If I calculated right it is about 160 times further from the sun, than Earth.
Or 4 times further out than Pluto.
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Post by Orac on Dec 6, 2023 15:07:36 GMT
It's interesting to speculate this thing's destiny. I would imagine that it will remain in an orbit around the galactic centre until our galaxy itself ceases to exist. Having trouble visualising that or what it would mean for entrepid adventurer - an eventual destiny in intergalactic void until the universe ends? (if it does)
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Post by Baron von Lotsov on Dec 6, 2023 15:30:22 GMT
It's a little technically inaccurate. The reactor will decay exponentially in power. There is no point where the power just stops. What they mean is the power will drop below the minimum operating power for the instruments and and as they said they will lose the ability for it to position the antenna. The problem is you don't get much solar radiation out as far as that.
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Post by Deleted on Dec 6, 2023 23:40:19 GMT
It's fascinating really to think that long after our lifetime, they'll still be crossing space, they'll still be on mission. It takes over a day to communicate with either Voyager now, and most systems have been shut down to save power, but, an amazing project. An amazing project indeed, especially considering that it is all 1970s technology, and still working. And the fact that the Voyagers are over a light day away is surely incredible. Because light - or in this case radio waves which travel at the speed of light - travels at a speed of 186,000 miles per second or thereabouts. And yet the voyagers are so far away that even travelling at 186,000 mps it takes over a day for signals to reach us. |
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Post by piglet on Dec 7, 2023 11:39:07 GMT
The voyagers will be doing what i will be doing having karked, exploring the Universe like the Enterprise. This may sound a bit tapped, but from an early age i have vowed to remember stuff, like why in relationships and events, as well as things too do, that the big man upstairs will grant it.
Imagine that, setting out on a journey into infinity that never ends.
And all the wonders, with good mates, good food and Jack Daniels, if im still at that stage.
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Post by Red Rackham on Dec 8, 2023 21:30:34 GMT
Thanks Red. Quite sad that they are going away forever, but then, so are we if we are not careful. Vanna! Apologies I missed this. Nice to hear from you, how's things on the other side of the planet? Yes it is sad, I think the Voyagers are brilliant, I often look in on them. We will all be dust long before the Voyagers are seen again. |
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Post by Red Rackham on Dec 8, 2023 21:38:46 GMT
If I calculated right it is about 160 times further from the sun, than Earth. Or 4 times further out than Pluto. Vast distances are easier to calculate in AU's (Astronomical units) 1 x AU = 94 million miles (Distance from sun to Earth) At the moment Voyager 1 is 162 AU's from Earth, and travelling at 39,000 mph. Mind blowing. |
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Post by Vanna on Dec 9, 2023 7:14:55 GMT
Thanks Red. Quite sad that they are going away forever, but then, so are we if we are not careful. Vanna! Apologies I missed this. Nice to hear from you, how's things on the other side of the planet? Yes it is sad, I think the Voyagers are brilliant, I often look in on them. We will all be dust long before the Voyagers are seen again. XX |
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Post by Dogburger on Dec 11, 2023 22:11:52 GMT
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Quite sad that they are going away forever, but then, so are we if we are not careful.
