Probe Voyager at the limit

2003/11/06 Kortabarria Olabarria, Beñardo - Elhuyar Zientzia

• Astrofisika

Until this correct information is available, scientists will have to wait. It is not clear whether the probe has reached that place or not. Two articles published in the last issue of the journal Nature have generated a debate in which it is stated that the border has been overcome and that no. Researchers at NASA's Goddard center claim that the Voyager 1 probe is yet to exceed the limit.

From August of last year to February of this year, the sensors of the Voyager 1 probe collected and sent different data to those recorded to date. Hence the debate. This would not happen if the Voyager 1 probe could measure the speed of the solar wind, as it is known that at the beginning of the helium it falls sharply. However, the tool that measures it is deteriorated, so scientists have drawn conclusions based on the information sent by the other instruments. Leaving the debate aside, it is clear that the Voyager 1 probe is moving along the limits of the solar system and there will be new information that scientists have not been able to study so far.

The probe is currently located at 90 astronomical units of the Sun, at 13.500,000,000 kilometers. Before arriving, he observed the giants Jupiter and Saturn. It started 26 years ago, in September 1977, and for the moment it is the object that has farther from the hand of man sent into space. After the probe Voyager 1 also left the probe Voyager 2, but in another direction. He has been the only car park that has reached Uranus and Neptune, which also has its goal on the border.