The Voyager 1 and 2 probes are still operating, although it has been nearly 45 years since their launch.
However, due to the reduced power supply, the sensor may soon complete its task
Here are 18 amazing photos they took during their 40+ year journey
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One of the expedition’s achievements was the stunning image of the solar system sent back by the probe before NASA turned off its camera.
Now, however, they are faced with a more serious problem – their power supply is running low, and scientists from the US agency are turning off more instruments on board to save power for other devices.
With their mission accomplished, let’s post 18 Voyager photos that changed the face of science.
Voyager probe designed to study Jupiter and Saturn
Voyager tracked down at the start of their mission. Sensors traverse the solar system and take unique pictures
The Voyager mission included two probes – Voyager 1 and Voyager 2, which NASA launched in 1977, several months apart.
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The start of the flight coincided with the planet’s extremely rare position, which allowed the probes to achieve very high accelerations during their journey into space.
The sensors were originally designed for five years, but they have gone beyond this period several times.
Also read: Voyager is the most important mission of the twentieth century. This might as well be the last evidence of the existence of mankind
This is what Voyager 1 sees as it approaches Jupiter
Voyager 1 and Voyager 2 reached Jupiter in 1979. In total, they performed about 50 thousand. planet pictures Quality that exceeds the footage taken by specialists from Earth, according to NASA.
These images provide scientists with important facts about Jupiter’s atmosphere, magnetic forces, and geology that are difficult to detect.
Sensors have discovered two new moons orbiting Jupiter: Thebes and Metis…
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Jupiter and its moons as seen by Voyager
…and a thin ring around Jupiter
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Image of Jupiter’s rings, discovered by Voyager
This image was taken by probe Back to the sunlit planet.
Voyager 1’s biggest discovery was volcanic activity on the surface of Io, one of Jupiter’s moons.
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Voyager images show the presence of volcanoes on the surface of Io
Next stop: Saturn
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To capture this image, NASA used three images from the Voyager 2 probe – taken with ultraviolet, purple, and green filters.
In 1980 and 1981, both probes reached Saturn. This trip gave scientists an unprecedented look at the circular structure of the planet, atmosphere and moon.
With Voyager, scientists have taken a closer look at Saturn’s rings.
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Distorted color image of Saturn’s rings taken by the spacecraft on August 23, 1981.
Voyager captured Enceladus, Saturn’s moon and hitherto undiscovered elements.
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Enceladus, one of Saturn’s moons, as seen by Voyager
The image, taken as the spacecraft flies away, provides a unique view of the planet
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On November 16, 1980, Voyager 1 looked at Saturn for the last time and got a unique view of the partially shaded rings.
In 1986 Voyager 2 reached Uranus.
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Voyager 2 took this shot of Neptune in 1986, in true (left) and false (right) colors
Voyager 1 continued its journey and found no other planets during its journey outside the solar system.
But Voyager 2 continued to explore the closest planets to us, traveling 81,466 kilometers from Uranus in January 1986.
Find two more rings around it, revealing that Uranus has at least 11 rings instead of 9.
Also read: 40 years of research in less than 3 minutes. NASA turns Voyager 1 data into music
Images of Uranus’ largest moon also reveal 11 other previously unseen moons
Here is a picture of Miranda, Uranus’ sixth largest moon.
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Images of Voyager Miranda, Uranus’ moon, have revealed its complex geological past
Voyager 2 is the first spacecraft to observe Neptune at close range
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Neptune as seen in false colors by Voyager 2 in 1989. In this case, red or white means sunlight passes through a methane-rich atmosphere
In 1989, 12 years after the launch of Voyager 2, it flew 4,830 kilometers from Neptune.
Blue Neptune in all its splendor.
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Neptune as seen by Voyager 2 in 1989.
Triton rough surface.
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Triton, as seen by Voyager 2 in 1989
The probe has picked up a so far undiscovered piece of Neptune’s moon Triton.
Southern Hemisphere of Triton.
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Neptune as seen by Voyager 2 in 1989
Voyager has captured Neptune’s ring.
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Neptune’s Ring
When Voyager turns around, it captures Neptune’s south pole in the shape of a crescent moon
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Neptune as seen by Voyager 2 in 1989.
Voyager 2 will no longer take photos. He would not find another planet on his way. NASA turned off the camera after they flew close to Neptune to conserve energy. So other machines can work.
The probe took 60 images of the solar system from a distance of about 4 billion km.
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This is how Voyager 1 photographed the solar system in 1990.
In its last photographic report in 1990, Voyager 1 took 60 images of the solar system from a distance of 4 billion miles.
Voyager is the creator of the farthest self-portrait on Earth, known as the “Pale Blue Dot”.
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This is Earth seen from a distance of 6.4 billion km
This shot is likely to remain the furthest selfie in human history for a long time – an image of Earth viewed from 6.4 billion kilometers away.
After this photo , NASA turned off the Voyager 1 camera to conserve energy. Agency can reactivate photo camera But this is not an important priority right now.
outside the solar system
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The image shows the general location of two of NASA’s Voyager spacecraft. Voyager 1 (above) travels beyond our solar system into interstellar space
While sensors no longer transmit images, they do not stop transmitting important information about the universe.
In 2012, Voyager 1 became the first man-made device to pass through interstellar space sun The boundary between our solar system and the rest of the universe.
Voyager 2 was the second to cross that boundary in 2018. Then it turned out that there was an extra barrier surrounding our sun’s bubble.
The sensors are still sending measurements from interstellar space, including strange noises that may come from vibrations produced by nearby stars.
Even with the tool turned off, the investigation mission will continue
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Two sides of NASA’s golden disk aboard the Voyager . spacecraft
Currently, NASA plans to turn off more instruments to extend the life of the receiver by 2030.
However, even after all the tools stopped working, the tentacles would still float and carry with them the golden disc that provided important information about humanity. If there is intelligent extraterrestrial life, you’ll want to read about it.
author: Marian Gino
Translation: Dorota Salus
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