About 10 years ago, the Voyager 1 spacecraft, launched in September 1977, entered interstellar space, leaving the solar system. Currently, this probe is the farthest object ever manufactured by humans, at about 160 AU (astronomical units) from the Earth.
The following destination of Voyager 1
Voyager 1 moves away from the solar system at an approximate speed of 3.5 AU per year, in the direction of the Ophiuchus constellation. It is estimated that in about 40,000 years the spacecraft will pass at a distance of 1.7 light years from a star called AC+79 3888, situated 17.6 light years away from the Earth.
After this approximation to the mentioned star, Voyager 1 will continue its path, orbiting the centre of the Milky Way.
The case of Voyager 2
On the other hand, Voyager 2 moves away from us at a speed of 3.1 AU every year, in the direction of the Sagittarius constellation. In 40,000 years, Voyager 2 will pass 1.7 light years away from Ross 248, a small star that belongs to the Andromeda constellation.
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Hola Ferran, gràcies per l’article. Quina és la mesura d’1 UA?
Gràcies!
Marc
1 UA correspon a uns 150 milions de kilòmetres (la distància entre el Sol i la Terra)
Ok, gràcies Ferran.
🙂