Comments on: Voyager 1 Is In the Stagnation Zone https://gregladen.com/blog/2011/12/05/voyager-1-is-in-the-stagnation/ Sat, 10 Dec 2011 16:23:49 +0000 hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.4.6 By: Greg Laden https://gregladen.com/blog/2011/12/05/voyager-1-is-in-the-stagnation/#comment-510055 Sat, 10 Dec 2011 16:23:49 +0000 http://scienceblogs.com/gregladen/2011/12/05/voyager-1-is-in-the-stagnation/#comment-510055 Right, the outer limit of the oort cloud is said to define the outer boundary. I’ve seen it put closer than you are saying … under one light year … but that’s still farther than Voyager 1.

Interesting, though, the cloud has not been observed or proven to exist. Someday, Voyager 1 will run into it. However, I doubt there will be enough power to send the signal back to earth. Also, at Voyager’s current rate of movement it may reach the Ooort cloud after the sun has exploded. If we play our cards right, we can pick up Voyager in one of our Star Ships on our way outta here.

]]> By: StevoR https://gregladen.com/blog/2011/12/05/voyager-1-is-in-the-stagnation/#comment-510054 Sat, 10 Dec 2011 11:45:27 +0000 http://scienceblogs.com/gregladen/2011/12/05/voyager-1-is-in-the-stagnation/#comment-510054 From what I’ve read I gather the Oort cloud of comets – the outernmost limits of the solar system – probably extends out about one to 1 & 1/2 light years from our daytime star.

Voyager may have found the limit of the solar wind and heliosheath but its centuries even aeons from departing the solar system. A sobering thought really.

]]> By: Zippy the Pinhead https://gregladen.com/blog/2011/12/05/voyager-1-is-in-the-stagnation/#comment-510053 Tue, 06 Dec 2011 17:10:59 +0000 http://scienceblogs.com/gregladen/2011/12/05/voyager-1-is-in-the-stagnation/#comment-510053 On a cosmic scale, 11 billion miles is less than 0.002 light years. It would take over 10000 years for Voyager to go 1 light year, one-fourth of the distance to the nearest star (even if it was heading in that direction). Voyager is barely across the lawn let alone the neighborhood.

]]> By: Greg Laden https://gregladen.com/blog/2011/12/05/voyager-1-is-in-the-stagnation/#comment-510052 Tue, 06 Dec 2011 14:01:01 +0000 http://scienceblogs.com/gregladen/2011/12/05/voyager-1-is-in-the-stagnation/#comment-510052 I’m pretty sure not. These are forces that are very large but very weak at one spot. More like a bunch of leaves blowing back on your lawn after you’ve raked it off. It could drive you crazy but it could not push your snow blower along any distance.

]]> By: Doug Alder https://gregladen.com/blog/2011/12/05/voyager-1-is-in-the-stagnation/#comment-510051 Tue, 06 Dec 2011 06:35:34 +0000 http://scienceblogs.com/gregladen/2011/12/05/voyager-1-is-in-the-stagnation/#comment-510051 I found “Voyager is showing that what is outside is pushing back. ” to be interesting – is there a (reasonable) chance that the force being exerted on Voyager from outside the solar system will be strong enough to counter the momentum Voyager has and bring it to a “standstill” probably a really stupid question – I know nothing about physics

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