Voyager 1 enters into “Magnetic Highway”
NASA’s spacecraft Voyager 1, which was launched in 1977, has entered into unknown area, which is said to be the edge of the solar system. NASA calls the region a "magnetic highway" where particles from inside the sun’s magnetic sphere zoom out and higher-energy particles (galactic cosmic ray particles) from outside stream in.
Voyager 1 may be very close to entering interstellar space and becoming the first manmade object to leave the Solar System. It is predicted to enter the interstellar medium b/w 2012–15. However, it will take another 40,000 years for it to fly by within 1.6 light years star Gliese 445, which is at present in the constellation Camelopardalis.
But its battery, nuclear powered with plutonium-238, is running out due to which scientists will have to start shutting down its five still functioning devices to let it survive longer. It will be able to send data till 2025.
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Month: Current Affairs - December, 2012
Category: Science & Technology Current Affairs