Interesting, I've always found entering deep space the most interesting about all the space exploration. It would be nice if it could take pictures from whereever it is, even a picture back at the now distant solar system.

I wouldn't say it would take millions, the distance passed beyond the solar system is heck of a move, in a hundred years it may be flying in some other system with planets. Is there a concrete path or direction Voyager 1 is going?

There is no increase, look at the two graphs.

The first one shows a nominal increase in highly energetic particles > 70 MeV, barely measurable. Look at the scale. A barely noticeable increase of 0.4 particles / sec.

The second graph shows almost all of the particles > 0.5 MeV ( Thus including the ones above ) and it has dropped to almost zero.

Saying there is a surprising increase is simply exaggerated, about like emptying a coin purse and there is a dollar remaining but no quarters and saying there is a sudden increase in dollars in your purse.

There could be a number of reasons for this level of higher energetic particles, maybe they concentrate in this particular region, or they are remnants of a massive solar eruption months ago, or they are part the "ether" that does connect the solar systems as proposed by the Electric Universe theory.

Originally posted by TrueBrit
What I do not understand is why the scientists are so confused by increases in activity. To me it makes perfect sense For example, when you grab one magnet in your right hand, and one in your left, and push the two north poles together. You will feel the resistance these objects have toward eachother, and although it is invisible to the naked eye, you know that there is force being exerted by these objects, that keeps them from touching. You do not for one moment imagine that there is a place between these forces, which is empty of all interaction, and indeed it is not logical to assume that there ought to be.

i think that is what happens as we get closer to the edge. Voyager will be pushed right back to us. This solar system is ours and we will be here until our end.

Firstly..."according to theory..."

Secondly, we teach people fact based on theory and then we wonder why we discover things are different than we thought later on.

Why can't people admit theory is theory instead of purporting it to be fact to make them look more intelligent than they really are?

very interesting find. I wonder what other information will come out on this.

I don't know why, but I have this weird thought.
-----
Nasa: Voyager will be breaking the heliopause in 5....4.....3.....2.....1.....
Voyager 1: *doink*
17hrs later.
Nasa: Ummm, voyager 1 has run into some unexpected results today. It would appear our solar system is a giant snow globe of sorts.... The heliopause is a giant bubble...
-------
From here it can go a number of ways.

______

God: Ha ha, you fools. I created your world, and you challenge my greatness!!!
*appocolypse*

Or it could also go like this.

*huge swarms of UFO's land on Earth*
Alien 1" Excuse me, earthling. Tell me, what was it like to be a star on The Intergalactic Entertainment Network"
*Alien Paparazi, and reporters the world over knock on every man woman and child's doors*
All the world leaders, and "Celebrities" disrobe their flesh suits, and reveal they were all highly payed intergalactic actors.

Universe's greatest reality show. "Earth"

Or we will find out we're all part of a giant simulation that was never programmed for Man, or any of it's creations to leave the heliosphere. At which point, the system could crash, restart, or who knows for that matter. Maybe we will all wake up tomorrow to the blue screen of death.

In all seriousness though, this is truly exciting. I simply hope once they pass the heliopause we don't lose contact with Voyager due to currently unknown disturbances. I'm sure there are sound theories as to what will happen, but what if the conditions in, or outside the heliopause disrupt the signal, or damage sensitive instruments. It's a valid thought is it not?

Just a quick question that possibley can't be answered.

Just imagine if Voyager had an infinite power source. It set off from Earth and travelled through space in a Northerly direction. Would it keep on going and going and going never to be seen again.

Or would it eventually come back to Earth after billions of years arriving at the Southern end?

Answers on a post card please.

Originally posted by lonewolf19792000
Can't help but wonder without the gravity well of a nearby star, if voyager's molecules would disintegrate and it dissipate into nothingness?

If anything, I wouldn't be surprised if it's speed accelerated.