Termination Shock
Posted by Nathaniel.
I’m trying to redeem myself with a quality post so I figure that I should mention that Voyager 1 recently reached the termination shock.
For those of you who aren’t in space physics (or astronomy at this point) the termination shock is the point where the solar wind and the ISM effectively join. Basically, beyond the termination shock you’re outside the solar system. And to think it’s only at about twice Pluto’s distance from the Sun.
Apparently, the thermocouples are good for another 15 or so years. We’ll see if a) there’s anything interesting to see in the near reaches of interstellar space and b) if NASA manages to keep it’s head out of it’s ass long enough to keep the Voyager project funded.