Ms Tree
Veteran
- Jul 13, 2010
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Decades after NASA's Voyager spacecraft began hurtling toward interstellar space, the twin probes are still shedding light on the universe, now by offering an unprecedented view of our own galaxy.
As they roam ever outward to the edge of the solar system, the two Voyager spacecraft are providing the first glimpse of Milky Way radiation that scientists have already seen coming from other galaxies. The data could lead to a better understanding of star formation, including the mystery surrounding the earliest stars in the universe, researchers said.
Data aside, I think it is pretty impressive that a satellite could survive the harshness of space for 35 years and still send back data. NASA did a pretty good job with this one.
Ironically, just as the Voyager probes are getting their best views of these Milky Way rays, their ability to see them is failing. Due to lack of power, the ultraviolet spectrometer on Voyager 2 has been switched off, and that same instrument on Voyager 1 could get turned off soon as well.
That kind of sucks but I guess after 35 years that is to be expected. Check back in 40,000 years for an update on star AC+79 3888. Voyager will pass within 1.6 light years (9 trillion miles +/-) of the star. Voyager 2 will pass 1.65 light years from Ross 248 in about 40,000 years as well.