26 votes

Voyager 1 is about to reach one light-day from Earth

7 comments

  1. [4]
    Aerrol
    Link
    Voyager 1 continues to astound! By this time next year, it will take a full 24 hours for communications from Voyager 1 to reach Earth. Really amazing scientific achievement that keeps on chugging.

    Voyager 1 continues to astound! By this time next year, it will take a full 24 hours for communications from Voyager 1 to reach Earth. Really amazing scientific achievement that keeps on chugging.

    11 votes
    1. [3]
      Timwi
      Link Parent
      While I fully agree with your sentiment, I don't know why we're celebrating a milestone that is still a whole year away...

      While I fully agree with your sentiment, I don't know why we're celebrating a milestone that is still a whole year away...

      9 votes
      1. OBLIVIATER
        Link Parent
        Relative to how long its been in space, that's not very far off. And I mean, its basically a full light day away already haha, who's counting a couple measely AU.

        Relative to how long its been in space, that's not very far off. And I mean, its basically a full light day away already haha, who's counting a couple measely AU.

        10 votes
      2. Aerrol
        Link Parent
        I'll be honest, I had the same thought but also the article exists and I had no idea it was even close! So why not share, right?

        I'll be honest, I had the same thought but also the article exists and I had no idea it was even close! So why not share, right?

        4 votes
  2. [2]
    trim
    Link
    I'll be sad when Voyager 1 becomes effectively lost, out of com range or out of power. I might raise a toast. Not yet though, eh

    I'll be sad when Voyager 1 becomes effectively lost, out of com range or out of power. I might raise a toast.

    Not yet though, eh

    9 votes
    1. Artren
      Link Parent
      Every time they announce it's likely dead.. the little guy just keeps getting back up and astounding us. Incredible work by the engineers back then.

      Every time they announce it's likely dead.. the little guy just keeps getting back up and astounding us. Incredible work by the engineers back then.

      4 votes
  3. TypicalObserver
    Link
    absolutely crazy to me that it took almost 50 years to reach a light days worth of distance. I'm sure perhaps propulsion/orbital techniques have gotten better since then (I have no clue, just...

    absolutely crazy to me that it took almost 50 years to reach a light days worth of distance. I'm sure perhaps propulsion/orbital techniques have gotten better since then (I have no clue, just guessing) but just goes to show how vast 1 light year is. Would take almost 1900 years to reach 1 light year.

    5 votes