Astronomy Lecture - The Voyager Mission to the Outer Planets and Interstellar Space

Name: Astronomy Lecture - The Voyager Mission to the Outer Planets and Interstellar Space
Start: 2024-10-11T20:00:00-07:00
Location: 1216 E California Blvd, Pasadena, CA, United States, California 91125

Schedule

Fri Oct 11 2024 at 08:00 pm

UTC-07:00

Location

1216 E California Blvd, Pasadena, CA, United States, California 91125 | Pasadena, CA

The NASA Voyager spacecraft were arguably the most important space mission in history, returning some of the first images of the outer solar system and beyond. Currently the most distant manmade objects, they continue to reveal important data about interstellar space. Join us for a 30-minute lecture featuring one of the original Voyager scientists, followed by a panel Q&A consisting of several astrophysicists to answer your questions about astronomy and space science.
This public astronomy event will be hosted both in-person as well as live-streamed over YouTube Live. The lecture will be 30 minutes, followed by a 90-minute session of telescope-aided stargazing and a Q&A Panel consisting of experts in the department on a variety of astronomy and astrophysical topics. You can attend in person or interact with us through the YouTube interface. Event is free and open to all, no reservations necessary.
For more information including a link to the YouTube Livestream and directions to Caltech, click on the poster image or visit our webpage: http://outreach.astro.caltech.edu
Title: The Voyager Mission to the Outer Planets and Interstellar Space
Lecturer: Alan Cummings
Abstract:
In 1977, NASA's twin Voyager spacecraft embarked on an incredible journey. After delivering stunning images of Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune, and many of their moons, the probes sailed on to study the boundary of our heliosphere. Voyager 1 crossed that frontier on August 25, 2012, becoming the first human-made object to enter interstellar space. Voyager 2 crossed on November 5, 2018. Our guest Dr. Cummings, one of the original Voyager scientists, will revisit the highlights of the mission. With enough resources on board to continue returning science data until ~2030, the Voyagers should add more discoveries until they become Earth’s silent ambassadors to the Milky Way, orbiting the center of our galaxy forever.