NASA’s Voyager 2 probe is approaching interstellar space and has detected an increase in cosmic rays that originate outside our solar system.
NASA’s Voyager 2:
Launched in 1977, Voyager 2 is a little less than 17.7 billion kilometres from Earth, or more than 118 times the distance from Earth to the Sun.
Since 2007 the probe has been travelling through the outermost layer of the heliosphere – the vast bubble around the Sun and the planets dominated by solar material and magnetic fields.
Voyager scientists have been watching for the spacecraft to reach the outer boundary of the heliosphere, known as the heliopause.
Once Voyager 2 exits the heliosphere, it will become the second human-made object, after Voyager 1, to enter interstellar space.
Interstellar Space:
‘Inter’ means between. ‘Stellar’ refers to stars. Interstellar space is the part of space that exists between stars.”
Boundary:
Scientists define the beginning of interstellar space as the place where the sun’s constant flow of material and magnetic field stop affecting its surroundings. This place is called the
It marks the end of a region created by our sun that is called the
The sun creates this heliosphere by sending a constant flow of particles and a magnetic field out into space at over 670,000 miles per hour. This stream is called the ‘solar wind.’
Dear Student,
You have still not entered your mailing address. Please enter the address where all the study materials will be sent to you. (If applicable).
