Voyager 2 - Has Left the solar system

[MacLeod]

In case anyone missed it the Voyager 2 probe has joined it's sister probe and left the solar system.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-46502820

I wonder when they designed and launched these probes over 40 years ago we would still be listening to them long after they had completed the grand voyage to the planets.

 

[YellowSubmarine]

It's only 120 AU away. The farthest known Solar System object, Comet West, reaches 70000 AU. So Voyager 2 is only 0.17% of the way in leaving the Solar System. Or less when the limits to the Oort cloud are extended further.

 

[Asbo Zaprudder]

Yeah, the phrase "leaving the solar system" is open to interpretation according to definition, like the word "planet". It'll take a few thousand years to pass beyond the Oort cloud. At least, the probe now has the opportunity to sample the local interstellar medium.

 

[XCV330]

Voyager 2 should overtake Pioneer 10 in terms of distance from the Sun, eventually too, though it will never overtake Voyager 1 (short of help from target-practice taking Klingons)

 

[XCV330]

Voyager 2 should overtake Pioneer 10 in terms of distance from the Sun, eventually too, though it will never overtake Voyager 1 (short of help from target-practice taking Klingons)

My mistake, that's already happened

 

[Santaman]

I wonder what Klingons will do when they get rear ended by that damn Tesla Roadster...

 

[rahullak]

They'll want revenge on the man who created that Roadster of course.

If there were ever a reason for first contact...

 

[XCV330]

They'll want revenge on the man who created that Roadster of course.

If there were ever a reason for first contact...

Starfleet does not permit first contact with a civilization that has either:
A: Developed warp-drive capability or
B: Frivolously launched a sports car into deep space

 

[Santaman]

They'll want revenge on the man who created that Roadster of course.

If there were ever a reason for first contact...

"That P'TAQ better have insurance!"