Voyager 1 is the farthest human-made object from Earth. Launched by NASA in 1977, its mission was to explore the outer planets. But decades later, it made history by reaching the edge of the solar system and entering interstellar space.
So what exactly did Voyager 1 find out there?
Crossing the Edge of the Solar System
In 2012, Voyager 1 crossed a boundary called the heliopause. This is the outer edge of the heliosphere, a giant bubble created by the Sun’s solar wind. Inside this bubble, the Sun’s influence dominates. Outside it lies interstellar space.
When Voyager 1 crossed this boundary, scientists noticed a major change in its data. The number of particles from the Sun dropped sharply, while particles from outside the solar system increased. This confirmed that Voyager 1 had left the Sun’s neighborhood.
A Sea of Cosmic Rays
One of Voyager 1’s biggest discoveries was a sharp increase in cosmic rays. These are high-energy particles that travel through space from distant stars and exploding supernovae.
Inside the solar system, the Sun’s magnetic field blocks many of these particles. Beyond the heliopause, Voyager 1 detected far more cosmic rays than ever before. This helped scientists understand how the solar system protects Earth from harmful radiation.
Strange Magnetic Fields
Scientists expected the magnetic field direction to change completely after Voyager 1 left the heliosphere. Surprisingly, the direction stayed almost the same, even though its strength increased.
This unexpected result challenged existing theories and suggested that the Sun’s magnetic field and interstellar magnetic fields may be more connected than previously thought.
A Cold, Thin Environment
Voyager 1 also measured the density and temperature of interstellar space. The environment is extremely cold and incredibly empty, with only a few particles per cubic centimeter.
Despite this emptiness, the interstellar medium plays a major role in galaxy formation and star birth. Voyager 1 is providing rare, direct measurements of this region for the first time in human history.
Sounds from Interstellar Space
Voyager 1 detected plasma waves that scientists converted into sound. These faint vibrations revealed how dense the interstellar medium is. While space itself is silent, these data-based sounds gave researchers a new way to study deep space.
Why Voyager 1 Still Matters
Even after more than 45 years, Voyager 1 continues to send valuable data back to Earth. Its discoveries are helping scientists understand how solar systems interact with the galaxy and how cosmic radiation moves through space.
Eventually, Voyager 1 will lose power and fall silent. But its journey has already changed our understanding of the universe forever.
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