Voyager spacecraft mark 40th anniversary

Voyagers 1 and 2 were launched in 1977 to take advantage of a favourable alignment of Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune, and are now exploring interstellar space

Voyager 2: Launched Aug 20, 1977
Voyager 1: Launched Sep 5, 1977

Spectrometers, radiometers and cameras: Observed Jupiter and Saturn
Golden record: Both Voyagers carry 30cm gold plated copper records featuring sounds and images of Earth
High-gain antenna
Magnetometer: Detects change in direction of magnetic field at edge of solar system

Instructions: How to play record
Video: How to decipher video signals
Lid
Record
Chemistry: Illustration of hydrogen atom
Location: How to find our sun using 14 pulsars

Lifespan: Both spacecraft have enough power left to last until 2025, after which communication
will be lost

MILKY WAY GALAXY

Human to scale

Our solar system
10,000
20,000
30,000
50,000
40,000
60,000
70,000
80,000 light years away
SCUTUM - CENTAURUS ARM
NORMA ARM
SAGITTARIUS ARM
ORION ARM
PERSEUS ARM
OUTER ARM

Milky Way Galaxy Diameter: 100,000 light years 
Speed of light: 300,000km per second
One light year: 9,461 billion km

HELIOSPHERE
Heliotail: As heliosphere travels through interstellar space it leaves long tail in its wake, similar to boat through water
Termination shock: Point where solar wind drops sharply upon meeting interstellar winds
17.07bn km from Earth*
Solar System
Bow shock: Solar wind pushes against interstellar wind, forming shock wave in front of heliosphere
20.73bn km from Earth*
Heliosheath: Region between termination shock and heliopause where solar wind slows and
compresses as it interacts with interstellar medium
INTERSTELLAR SPACE
Heliopause: Solar wind halted as not strong enough to push back against interstellar wind

PRIMARY MISSION
Led by astrophysicist Ed Stone (r), Voyager’s main mission was completed in 1989 after Voyager 2
made close flyby of Neptune on way out of solar system
Programme extended to interstellar mission. Has mapped shape and reach of heliosphere to edge of solar system

SOLAR SYSTEM
50,000km 31,069 miles
Sun
Mercury
Venus
Earth
Mars
Jupiter
Great Red Spot
Saturn 
Uranus 
Neptune

Mar 5, 1979: Voyager 1 flies by Jupiter. Confirms Great Red Spot moves anticlockwise
Jul 9, 1979: Voyager 2 passes Jupiter
Nov 12, 1980: Voyager 1 slingshots around Saturn and begins voyage out of solar system
Aug 25, 1981: Voyager 2 flies by Saturn
Jan 24, 1986: Voyager 2 has first-ever encounter with Uranus
Aug 25, 1989: Voyager 2 visits Neptune before exiting Solar System

Note: Sun and planet sizes to scale, distances between are not
Note: Pluto not shown following demotion to dwarf planet in 2006

*Distances from Earth as of 0900GMT, July 19, 2017

1 1 2 2


Sources: NASA, JPL, Caltech 
Pictures: NASA/JPL-Caltech/Space Science Institute, NASA
© GRAPHIC NEWS