NASAs robotic explorer reached the heliopause leaving the solar system (by one major standard) in 2012.
Its very faint and monotone, because it is in a narrow frequency bandwidth.
Time for a sea shanty!
Two years after launch, Voyager 1 encounteredJupiterin 1979, and Saturn three years later.
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Like oceans on Earth, the interstellar medium has been found to be filled with waves.
These waves can tell astronomers about the density of the interstellar medium.
Their energy causes electrons to vibrate at specific frequencies, depending on the density ofelectrons surrounding the spacecraft.
Higher frequencies reveal the presence of greater densities within the tenuous matrix.
The interstellar medium is like a quiet or gentle rain.
However, as the spacecraft moves further from theSun, effects from other stars will become more prominent.
But were not entirely sure when well reach that point,Ocker explains.
This new study (likely) represents the first continuous measurement of interstellar material.
Its knowledge has reached the limits of this universe and it must evolve.
Regardless of what the sun is doing, Voyager is sending back detail.
The craft is saying, Heres the density Im swimming through right now.
And here it is now.
And here it is now.
And here it is now.
Voyager is quite distant and will be doing this continuously, Cornell research scientist Shami Chatterjee describes.
Attached to each of the spacecraft are golden records, featuring the sights and sounds of Earth.
This message to the stars was the brainchild of famed astronomerCarl Sagan.
This article was originally published onThe Cosmic Companionby James Maynard, founder and publisher of The Cosmic Companion.
you might read this original piecehere.
