Presentation | Grades 6-12+ | Dr. Jamie Rankin, the Deputy Project Scientist for the Voyager mission, presented highlights of the scientific discoveries from Voyager 1 and 2, focusing specifically on their journey out of the solar system and into the interstellar medium (ISM).
She touched on several key findings and discoveries: 1. The heliosphere acts as a shield to cosmic radiation.
2. Cosmic rays in interstellar space may be studied for the first time without the Sun’s interference.
3. Interstellar shocks: surprisingly, solar weather still impacts interstellar space.
Solar disturbances (like Coronal Mass Ejections) can merge, survive the journey through the heliosphere, and push waves into the ISM. This creates long-lasting, thick pressure shocks outside of our solar system.
4. Interstellar pressure: shocks waves lead to calculations of the pressure of the ISM for the first time.
Starting in mid-2020, Voyager 1 observed a sudden, sustained jump in both magnetic field strength and plasma density; they remained highly elevated. That’s a mystery for scientists.
Jamie also talked about the health and operations of the probes. It would take communications a 2-day round trip, but the team is planning to celebrate its 50th anniversary in 2027.
