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Voyager 2 Set to Reach Termination Shock

Posted by CmdrTaco on from the cool-stuff-you've-never-heard-of dept.

Invisible Pink Unicorn writes "A computer model simulation developed at UC Riverside has predicted that in late 2007 to early 2008, the interplanetary spacecraft Voyager 2 will cross the termination shock, the spherical shell around the solar system that marks where the solar wind slows down to subsonic speed. At the termination shock, located at 7-8.5 billion miles from the sun, the solar wind is decelerated to less than the speed of sound. The boundary of the termination shock is not fixed, however, but wobbly, fluctuating in both time and distance from the sun, depending on solar activity. Because of this fluctuation, the spacecraft is also predicted to cross the boundary again in middle 2008. The article abstract is available from The Astrophysical Journal."

3 of 308 comments (clear)

  1. Haven't you heard? by ebolaZaireRules · · Score: 0, Redundant

    In space, no one can hear you scream? ... because the speed of sound in space is zero (well, undefined would probably be better)

    So apart from it being a long way away, its where space (where there is no sound) is slower than sound (on earth)

    ?

    --
    The Bible: Historically verifiable fact from an observers point of view
  2. The speed of sound by SCHecklerX · · Score: 0, Redundant

    what?

    The speed of sound is different depending on the medium. The speed of sound where? (I didn't RTFA, just pointing out the lameness of the summary). Usually, when you talk about the speed of sound, it is relative to the density where you are observing your speed. So in space, having the solar wind be less than that (~0), does it then bounce back? :-)

  3. Obvious question... by pottymouth · · Score: 0, Redundant



    Ehhhh, how fast does sound travel in space again.....?