1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:04,280 Picture this, it's 1977, discos everywhere, 2 00:00:04,280 --> 00:00:07,040 and humanity is about to launch something incredible. 3 00:00:07,040 --> 00:00:09,240 Two spacecraft, Voyager 1 and 2. 4 00:00:09,240 --> 00:00:12,160 Destined to become like our farthest reaching emissaries. 5 00:00:12,160 --> 00:00:14,840 It really is a story of audacious dreams 6 00:00:14,840 --> 00:00:16,880 and groundbreaking discoveries. 7 00:00:16,880 --> 00:00:18,040 And the message in a bottle. 8 00:00:18,040 --> 00:00:20,040 Yeah, tossed into the cosmic sea. 9 00:00:20,040 --> 00:00:23,440 Welcome to Cosmos, in a pod, the space and astronomy series. 10 00:00:23,440 --> 00:00:25,440 Please like, comment, share. 11 00:00:25,440 --> 00:00:26,240 And subscribe. 12 00:00:26,240 --> 00:00:27,120 Yes. 13 00:00:27,120 --> 00:00:30,080 OK, so you're probably thinking two spacecraft 14 00:00:30,080 --> 00:00:31,040 launched in the 70s. 15 00:00:31,040 --> 00:00:31,440 Right. 16 00:00:31,440 --> 00:00:32,360 What's the big deal? 17 00:00:32,360 --> 00:00:33,160 What's the big deal? 18 00:00:33,160 --> 00:00:35,840 Well, the Voyager probes weren't just any mission. 19 00:00:35,840 --> 00:00:36,400 Right. 20 00:00:36,400 --> 00:00:39,240 They were initially conceived as part of this grand plan 21 00:00:39,240 --> 00:00:41,760 called the Planetary Grand Tour. 22 00:00:41,760 --> 00:00:45,360 Imagine a celestial alignment so rare. 23 00:00:45,360 --> 00:00:48,120 It only happens once every 175 years. 24 00:00:48,120 --> 00:00:48,640 Wow. 25 00:00:48,640 --> 00:00:51,200 All the outer planets lining up perfectly. 26 00:00:51,200 --> 00:00:54,360 Allowing a spacecraft to slingshot from one to the next. 27 00:00:54,360 --> 00:00:55,960 Using their gravity. 28 00:00:55,960 --> 00:00:56,720 Exactly. 29 00:00:56,720 --> 00:00:58,440 Was it like a cosmic pinball game? 30 00:00:58,440 --> 00:00:59,240 Kind of, yeah. 31 00:00:59,240 --> 00:01:00,600 That sounds incredibly efficient. 32 00:01:00,600 --> 00:01:01,760 It was a visionary concept. 33 00:01:01,760 --> 00:01:03,760 But ultimately, budget constraints 34 00:01:03,760 --> 00:01:06,080 force NASA to scale back. 35 00:01:06,080 --> 00:01:10,240 Instead of one spacecraft visiting all four gas giants, 36 00:01:10,240 --> 00:01:13,200 they opted for two probes with a more focused mission. 37 00:01:13,200 --> 00:01:13,720 OK. 38 00:01:13,720 --> 00:01:14,720 Voyager 1 and 2. 39 00:01:14,720 --> 00:01:15,280 Right. 40 00:01:15,280 --> 00:01:18,280 But even with the revised plan, the Voyagers 41 00:01:18,280 --> 00:01:20,600 were destined to rewrite our understanding 42 00:01:20,600 --> 00:01:21,920 of the solar system. 43 00:01:21,920 --> 00:01:23,000 And they did, right? 44 00:01:23,000 --> 00:01:23,520 Oh, yeah. 45 00:01:23,520 --> 00:01:24,800 They went above and beyond. 46 00:01:24,800 --> 00:01:25,640 Yeah. 47 00:01:25,640 --> 00:01:28,360 They ended up exceeding those initial expectations 48 00:01:28,360 --> 00:01:29,320 by quite a bit. 49 00:01:29,320 --> 00:01:29,840 For sure. 50 00:01:29,840 --> 00:01:31,600 So where did they even begin? 51 00:01:31,600 --> 00:01:32,720 They started with a bang. 52 00:01:32,720 --> 00:01:33,280 Oh, rather. 53 00:01:33,280 --> 00:01:34,680 A swirling storm. 54 00:01:34,680 --> 00:01:35,320 OK. 55 00:01:35,320 --> 00:01:38,080 Voyager 1 gave us our first close-up look 56 00:01:38,080 --> 00:01:40,400 at Jupiter's Great Red Spot. 57 00:01:40,400 --> 00:01:41,840 We knew it was a giant storm. 58 00:01:41,840 --> 00:01:42,320 Yeah. 59 00:01:42,320 --> 00:01:45,320 But the Voyager images revealed its true scale. 60 00:01:45,320 --> 00:01:45,920 OK. 61 00:01:45,920 --> 00:01:50,320 Imagine a storm so large it could swallow the entire Earth. 62 00:01:50,320 --> 00:01:51,200 That's wow. 63 00:01:51,200 --> 00:01:51,560 OK. 64 00:01:51,560 --> 00:01:53,560 I'm officially starting to grasp the scale of this. 65 00:01:53,560 --> 00:01:54,240 It's massive. 66 00:01:54,240 --> 00:01:57,040 What else did Voyager 1 uncover at Jupiter? 67 00:01:57,040 --> 00:01:57,640 Well. 68 00:01:57,640 --> 00:01:59,640 Didn't it make some pretty groundbreaking discoveries 69 00:01:59,640 --> 00:02:00,920 on one of its moons, too? 70 00:02:00,920 --> 00:02:01,520 It did. 71 00:02:01,520 --> 00:02:02,000 Yeah? 72 00:02:02,000 --> 00:02:05,160 Voyager 1 discovered active volcanoes erupting 73 00:02:05,160 --> 00:02:07,640 on Jupiter's moon, Io. 74 00:02:07,640 --> 00:02:08,400 Great. 75 00:02:08,400 --> 00:02:11,120 Before this, we'd never seen volcanic activity. 76 00:02:11,120 --> 00:02:11,680 Anywhere. 77 00:02:11,680 --> 00:02:13,600 Anywhere beyond Earth. 78 00:02:13,600 --> 00:02:14,080 Wow. 79 00:02:14,080 --> 00:02:16,240 Was a pivotal moment, making us rethink 80 00:02:16,240 --> 00:02:19,720 the possibilities of what could exist on these seemingly 81 00:02:19,720 --> 00:02:21,120 alien worlds. 82 00:02:21,120 --> 00:02:23,840 Volcanoes erupting on a moon of Jupiter. 83 00:02:23,840 --> 00:02:24,640 I know. 84 00:02:24,640 --> 00:02:26,960 That must have sent shockwaves to the scientific community. 85 00:02:26,960 --> 00:02:27,480 Sure. 86 00:02:27,480 --> 00:02:28,720 It sounds like the Voyager probes 87 00:02:28,720 --> 00:02:30,840 are shattering our assumptions from the very beginning. 88 00:02:30,840 --> 00:02:31,360 Absolutely. 89 00:02:31,360 --> 00:02:32,520 And they weren't done yet. 90 00:02:32,520 --> 00:02:33,040 What else? 91 00:02:33,040 --> 00:02:37,040 Voyager 1 also captured stunning close-up images. 92 00:02:37,040 --> 00:02:38,360 Saturn's rings. 93 00:02:38,360 --> 00:02:38,880 Oh, wow. 94 00:02:38,880 --> 00:02:41,280 Revealing their intricate structure 95 00:02:41,280 --> 00:02:44,480 and the tiny moonlets embedded within them. 96 00:02:44,480 --> 00:02:45,040 Cool. 97 00:02:45,040 --> 00:02:46,960 These images weren't just pretty pictures. 98 00:02:46,960 --> 00:02:50,600 They gave us valuable data about the formation and evolution 99 00:02:50,600 --> 00:02:52,120 of planetary rings. 100 00:02:52,120 --> 00:02:55,560 So Voyager 1 was making history at Jupiter and Saturn. 101 00:02:55,560 --> 00:02:58,040 What was Voyager 2 up to during all this? 102 00:02:58,040 --> 00:03:00,840 Voyager 2 was on its own remarkable journey. 103 00:03:00,840 --> 00:03:01,320 OK. 104 00:03:01,320 --> 00:03:04,520 While Voyager 1 was capturing those iconic images 105 00:03:04,520 --> 00:03:08,320 of Jupiter and Saturn, Voyager 2 was continuing outward, 106 00:03:08,320 --> 00:03:10,320 eventually becoming the only spacecraft 107 00:03:10,320 --> 00:03:12,040 to visit Uranus and Neptune. 108 00:03:12,040 --> 00:03:12,560 Hold on. 109 00:03:12,560 --> 00:03:15,960 So Voyager 2 got to see two of the most mysterious planets 110 00:03:15,960 --> 00:03:17,240 in our solar system. 111 00:03:17,240 --> 00:03:17,880 That's right. 112 00:03:17,880 --> 00:03:18,840 That's amazing. 113 00:03:18,840 --> 00:03:20,120 The ice giants. 114 00:03:20,120 --> 00:03:21,920 What did it find at those icy giants? 115 00:03:21,920 --> 00:03:23,600 Well, they're so far away, we barely 116 00:03:23,600 --> 00:03:24,720 know anything about them. 117 00:03:24,720 --> 00:03:27,320 That's precisely what made Voyager 2's mission 118 00:03:27,320 --> 00:03:28,400 so remarkable. 119 00:03:28,400 --> 00:03:29,080 Yeah. 120 00:03:29,080 --> 00:03:32,760 At Uranus, it discovered a bizarre sideways magnetic 121 00:03:32,760 --> 00:03:35,840 field, indicating that the planet had been tilted 122 00:03:35,840 --> 00:03:40,760 on its side by a colossal impact in its distant past. 123 00:03:40,760 --> 00:03:42,400 A planet tilted on its side. 124 00:03:42,400 --> 00:03:43,720 That just sounds chaotic. 125 00:03:43,720 --> 00:03:44,320 It's wild. 126 00:03:44,320 --> 00:03:45,920 Like something out of a sci-fi movie. 127 00:03:45,920 --> 00:03:46,640 Right. 128 00:03:46,640 --> 00:03:47,600 OK, and at Neptune. 129 00:03:47,600 --> 00:03:52,240 At Neptune, Voyager 2 witnessed incredibly fast winds. 130 00:03:52,240 --> 00:03:53,120 How fast? 131 00:03:53,120 --> 00:03:55,080 The fastest in the solar system. 132 00:03:55,080 --> 00:03:55,680 Wow. 133 00:03:55,680 --> 00:03:57,520 Whipping around the planet at speeds. 134 00:03:57,520 --> 00:03:58,440 Faster than. 135 00:03:58,440 --> 00:04:00,840 That would make a hurricane look like a gentle breeze. 136 00:04:00,840 --> 00:04:01,320 Wow. 137 00:04:01,320 --> 00:04:03,360 OK, so these planets are definitely not 138 00:04:03,360 --> 00:04:06,880 the calm blue giants we see in those artist renditions. 139 00:04:06,880 --> 00:04:07,400 Nope. 140 00:04:07,400 --> 00:04:09,960 So both probes visited the gas giants. 141 00:04:09,960 --> 00:04:13,440 But didn't they also have another, perhaps even more 142 00:04:13,440 --> 00:04:14,800 important mission? 143 00:04:14,800 --> 00:04:15,560 They did. 144 00:04:15,560 --> 00:04:18,600 They carried a message for anyone or anything 145 00:04:18,600 --> 00:04:20,960 they might encounter in their interstellar travels. 146 00:04:20,960 --> 00:04:22,480 You're talking about the golden records, right? 147 00:04:22,480 --> 00:04:22,960 Yes. 148 00:04:22,960 --> 00:04:24,200 I remember reading about them. 149 00:04:24,200 --> 00:04:25,680 It's such a fascinating idea. 150 00:04:25,680 --> 00:04:28,280 Yeah, attaching a message to a spacecraft, 151 00:04:28,280 --> 00:04:31,400 hoping it might one day be found by an alien civilization. 152 00:04:31,400 --> 00:04:32,520 Exactly. 153 00:04:32,520 --> 00:04:35,160 It's an incredibly ambitious and hopeful project. 154 00:04:35,160 --> 00:04:35,960 It is. 155 00:04:35,960 --> 00:04:38,280 We essentially put a message in a bottle, 156 00:04:38,280 --> 00:04:40,440 attached it to both Voyager probes, 157 00:04:40,440 --> 00:04:42,200 and flung it out into the cosmos. 158 00:04:42,200 --> 00:04:43,640 That's a great way to put it. 159 00:04:43,640 --> 00:04:46,680 It's almost like a time capsule of humanity 160 00:04:46,680 --> 00:04:49,600 hurtling through interstellar space. 161 00:04:49,600 --> 00:04:50,680 I like that. 162 00:04:50,680 --> 00:04:52,280 So what's on these golden records? 163 00:04:52,280 --> 00:04:55,280 What kind of message did we decide to send to the stars? 164 00:04:55,280 --> 00:04:58,040 We wanted to show off the best of humanity. 165 00:04:58,040 --> 00:04:58,520 OK. 166 00:04:58,520 --> 00:04:59,560 Imagine this. 167 00:04:59,560 --> 00:05:04,080 An alien civilization stumbles upon this spacecraft 168 00:05:04,080 --> 00:05:06,320 billions of years from now. 169 00:05:06,320 --> 00:05:08,760 The golden record plays greetings. 170 00:05:08,760 --> 00:05:09,880 In how many languages? 171 00:05:09,880 --> 00:05:11,640 In 55 different languages. 172 00:05:11,640 --> 00:05:13,400 They hear the sounds of our planet. 173 00:05:13,400 --> 00:05:14,400 Whales. 174 00:05:14,400 --> 00:05:16,120 Singing thunder. 175 00:05:16,120 --> 00:05:17,000 A mother's kiss. 176 00:05:17,000 --> 00:05:18,560 A mother's kiss to her child. 177 00:05:18,560 --> 00:05:19,080 OK. 178 00:05:19,080 --> 00:05:22,480 They see images of Earth's diverse landscapes, 179 00:05:22,480 --> 00:05:25,000 the incredible life that thrives here. 180 00:05:25,000 --> 00:05:25,560 OK. 181 00:05:25,560 --> 00:05:27,040 And then they hear music. 182 00:05:27,040 --> 00:05:28,240 Like what kind of music? 183 00:05:28,240 --> 00:05:30,920 From Baco to Chuck Berry. 184 00:05:30,920 --> 00:05:32,120 Wow, what a range. 185 00:05:32,120 --> 00:05:36,880 A testament to our creativity and artistic expression. 186 00:05:36,880 --> 00:05:39,280 It's a beautiful and almost poetic thought, isn't it? 187 00:05:39,280 --> 00:05:39,920 It is. 188 00:05:39,920 --> 00:05:43,240 A snapshot of humanity frozen in time. 189 00:05:43,240 --> 00:05:43,800 Yeah. 190 00:05:43,800 --> 00:05:45,920 Traveling through the galaxy for eons. 191 00:05:45,920 --> 00:05:46,880 I love it. 192 00:05:46,880 --> 00:05:50,680 Did anyone object to the idea of including human sounds 193 00:05:50,680 --> 00:05:52,320 and images on the record? 194 00:05:52,320 --> 00:05:54,120 Actually, there was a bit of debate at the time. 195 00:05:54,120 --> 00:05:54,720 Really? 196 00:05:54,720 --> 00:05:57,280 Some scientists argued that revealing our location 197 00:05:57,280 --> 00:05:58,480 might be risky. 198 00:05:58,480 --> 00:06:01,800 What if we attract the attention of a hostile alien civilization? 199 00:06:01,800 --> 00:06:03,040 Exactly. 200 00:06:03,040 --> 00:06:03,920 That's a good point. 201 00:06:03,920 --> 00:06:05,720 Do they suggest any alternatives? 202 00:06:05,720 --> 00:06:08,600 Some suggested sending a purely mathematical message, 203 00:06:08,600 --> 00:06:10,160 something that could convey information 204 00:06:10,160 --> 00:06:12,120 about our scientific understanding, 205 00:06:12,120 --> 00:06:15,280 but wouldn't reveal anything about our culture or location. 206 00:06:15,280 --> 00:06:15,760 Interesting. 207 00:06:15,760 --> 00:06:16,600 So what happened? 208 00:06:16,600 --> 00:06:18,440 How did they ultimately decide what 209 00:06:18,440 --> 00:06:19,960 to put on the golden record? 210 00:06:19,960 --> 00:06:22,960 Well, in the end, the desire to share our story 211 00:06:22,960 --> 00:06:24,840 outweighed the potential risks. 212 00:06:24,840 --> 00:06:25,320 Yeah. 213 00:06:25,320 --> 00:06:30,120 It was a bold decision, a testament to our optimism 214 00:06:30,120 --> 00:06:33,640 and our belief that there might be other intelligent life out 215 00:06:33,640 --> 00:06:36,840 there, curious enough to find and understand our message. 216 00:06:36,840 --> 00:06:39,000 It's a fascinating ethical dilemma. 217 00:06:39,000 --> 00:06:39,680 It is. 218 00:06:39,680 --> 00:06:42,200 One that we might face more often as we continue 219 00:06:42,200 --> 00:06:43,320 to explore space. 220 00:06:43,320 --> 00:06:44,760 Right. 221 00:06:44,760 --> 00:06:47,720 But for now, we know those golden records are out there. 222 00:06:47,720 --> 00:06:48,240 Yeah. 223 00:06:48,240 --> 00:06:49,920 Hurdling through the void, carrying 224 00:06:49,920 --> 00:06:51,400 a piece of humanity with them. 225 00:06:51,400 --> 00:06:52,600 It's amazing. 226 00:06:52,600 --> 00:06:55,120 So what happened after the Voyager probes finished 227 00:06:55,120 --> 00:06:56,840 their planetary encounters? 228 00:06:56,840 --> 00:06:59,000 That's where things get even more interesting. 229 00:06:59,000 --> 00:06:59,720 OK. 230 00:06:59,720 --> 00:07:01,520 Buckle up, because we're about to delve 231 00:07:01,520 --> 00:07:04,040 into the realm of interstellar space. 232 00:07:04,040 --> 00:07:04,880 All right, let's go. 233 00:07:04,880 --> 00:07:06,920 After their grand tour of the gas giants, 234 00:07:06,920 --> 00:07:10,000 the Voyager probes weren't content to just hang around. 235 00:07:10,000 --> 00:07:10,480 Right. 236 00:07:10,480 --> 00:07:12,920 They embarked on a new phase of their journey, 237 00:07:12,920 --> 00:07:16,040 one that would take them farther than any human-made object 238 00:07:16,040 --> 00:07:17,200 had gone before. 239 00:07:17,200 --> 00:07:18,480 You just zipped through it. 240 00:07:18,480 --> 00:07:22,440 Interstellar space, it sounds so vast and mysterious. 241 00:07:22,440 --> 00:07:23,000 It is. 242 00:07:23,000 --> 00:07:24,080 What exactly is it? 243 00:07:24,080 --> 00:07:24,400 Right. 244 00:07:24,400 --> 00:07:25,840 What makes it different from, say, 245 00:07:25,840 --> 00:07:27,600 the space between planets? 246 00:07:27,600 --> 00:07:28,320 Well, you're right. 247 00:07:28,320 --> 00:07:30,200 It is incredibly vast and mysterious. 248 00:07:30,200 --> 00:07:30,800 Imagine this. 249 00:07:30,800 --> 00:07:33,520 You have our solar system with the sun at the center. 250 00:07:33,520 --> 00:07:34,000 OK. 251 00:07:34,000 --> 00:07:35,800 All the planets orbiting around it, 252 00:07:35,800 --> 00:07:39,040 that's interplanetary space, where the sun's influence 253 00:07:39,040 --> 00:07:40,120 reigns supreme. 254 00:07:40,120 --> 00:07:40,640 Right. 255 00:07:40,640 --> 00:07:44,520 But beyond the planets extending far, far outwards 256 00:07:44,520 --> 00:07:47,720 is a region where the sun's magnetic field and solar wind 257 00:07:47,720 --> 00:07:49,520 weaken, and the environment becomes 258 00:07:49,520 --> 00:07:52,440 dominated by particles and radiation from other stars. 259 00:07:52,440 --> 00:07:52,960 OK. 260 00:07:52,960 --> 00:07:54,760 That's interstellar space. 261 00:07:54,760 --> 00:07:57,040 So it's like leaving the sun's protective bubble. 262 00:07:57,040 --> 00:07:57,760 Exactly. 263 00:07:57,760 --> 00:07:59,880 And venturing out into the wild, unknown territory 264 00:07:59,880 --> 00:08:00,880 between solar system. 265 00:08:00,880 --> 00:08:01,400 It is. 266 00:08:01,400 --> 00:08:04,720 And it's a journey that takes a long, long time. 267 00:08:04,720 --> 00:08:09,720 In fact, it took Voyager 1 over 35 years after its launch 268 00:08:09,720 --> 00:08:11,720 to officially cross that boundary 269 00:08:11,720 --> 00:08:13,400 and enter interstellar space. 270 00:08:13,400 --> 00:08:14,000 35 years. 271 00:08:14,000 --> 00:08:15,440 That's longer than I've been alive. 272 00:08:15,440 --> 00:08:15,940 I know. 273 00:08:15,940 --> 00:08:16,760 It's incredible. 274 00:08:16,760 --> 00:08:19,360 To think that this little spacecraft launched back 275 00:08:19,360 --> 00:08:23,200 when disco was still cool is out there right now exploring 276 00:08:23,200 --> 00:08:24,680 the space between stars. 277 00:08:24,680 --> 00:08:25,360 Yeah. 278 00:08:25,360 --> 00:08:26,280 It's mind blowing. 279 00:08:26,280 --> 00:08:27,800 It's mind blowing. 280 00:08:27,800 --> 00:08:30,280 What was it like when Voyager 1 finally 281 00:08:30,280 --> 00:08:32,400 reached interstellar space? 282 00:08:32,400 --> 00:08:34,400 It was a historic moment, a testament 283 00:08:34,400 --> 00:08:37,920 to human ingenuity and our enduring spirit of exploration. 284 00:08:37,920 --> 00:08:38,600 Yeah. 285 00:08:38,600 --> 00:08:42,040 Scientists eagerly awaited data from Voyager 1's instruments, 286 00:08:42,040 --> 00:08:45,600 hoping to get a glimpse into this uncharted territory. 287 00:08:45,600 --> 00:08:47,040 What did they find? 288 00:08:47,040 --> 00:08:48,740 Well, one of the first things they noticed 289 00:08:48,740 --> 00:08:51,040 was a change in the density of plasma. 290 00:08:51,040 --> 00:08:51,560 OK. 291 00:08:51,560 --> 00:08:54,360 That soup of charged particles that permeate space. 292 00:08:54,360 --> 00:08:54,880 Right. 293 00:08:54,880 --> 00:08:57,720 The plasma in interstellar space is much denser 294 00:08:57,720 --> 00:08:59,960 than the plasma found within our solar system. 295 00:08:59,960 --> 00:09:00,480 OK. 296 00:09:00,480 --> 00:09:02,920 It's like moving from a thin, dry atmosphere 297 00:09:02,920 --> 00:09:05,160 to a thicker, more humid one. 298 00:09:05,160 --> 00:09:05,840 Interesting. 299 00:09:05,840 --> 00:09:08,600 So even the very fabric of space is different out there. 300 00:09:08,600 --> 00:09:09,240 It is. 301 00:09:09,240 --> 00:09:10,200 What else did they learn? 302 00:09:10,200 --> 00:09:13,000 Voyager 1's instruments also detected a dramatic drop 303 00:09:13,000 --> 00:09:15,400 in the number of charged particles coming from the sun. 304 00:09:15,400 --> 00:09:16,000 OK. 305 00:09:16,000 --> 00:09:18,840 This was further confirmation that the probe had indeed 306 00:09:18,840 --> 00:09:20,200 left the heliosphere. 307 00:09:20,200 --> 00:09:21,760 That protective bubble. 308 00:09:21,760 --> 00:09:24,760 Yeah, that protective bubble surrounding our solar system. 309 00:09:24,760 --> 00:09:26,680 Created by the sun's solar wind. 310 00:09:26,680 --> 00:09:27,360 Right. 311 00:09:27,360 --> 00:09:29,800 So it's really like Voyager 1 has left home. 312 00:09:29,800 --> 00:09:30,520 It has. 313 00:09:30,520 --> 00:09:33,320 And is now venturing out into the wider galactic 314 00:09:33,320 --> 00:09:33,840 neighborhood. 315 00:09:33,840 --> 00:09:34,520 Precisely. 316 00:09:34,520 --> 00:09:36,760 And its journey is far from over. 317 00:09:36,760 --> 00:09:37,480 Where's it going? 318 00:09:37,480 --> 00:09:39,840 Voyager 1 is still speeding away from us 319 00:09:39,840 --> 00:09:41,880 at about 38,000 miles per hour. 320 00:09:41,880 --> 00:09:42,600 Wow. 321 00:09:42,600 --> 00:09:46,720 It's on a trajectory that will take it within 1.6 light years 322 00:09:46,720 --> 00:09:51,360 of a star called Gliese 445 in about 40,000 years. 323 00:09:51,360 --> 00:09:52,520 40,000 years? 324 00:09:52,520 --> 00:09:54,000 That's an incredibly long time. 325 00:09:54,000 --> 00:09:56,320 I can't even imagine what Earth will be like then, 326 00:09:56,320 --> 00:09:59,280 let alone what kind of technology we might have by then. 327 00:09:59,280 --> 00:10:00,440 It's mind boggling, isn't it? 328 00:10:00,440 --> 00:10:00,960 Yeah. 329 00:10:00,960 --> 00:10:02,760 But here's something even more fascinating. 330 00:10:02,760 --> 00:10:05,120 Voyager 1 won't actually reach the true edge 331 00:10:05,120 --> 00:10:07,920 of our solar system for another 30,000 years. 332 00:10:07,920 --> 00:10:08,440 After that. 333 00:10:08,440 --> 00:10:10,880 After that close encounter with Gliese 445. 334 00:10:10,880 --> 00:10:11,400 Hold on. 335 00:10:11,400 --> 00:10:13,000 So there's even more to our solar system 336 00:10:13,000 --> 00:10:14,240 than we typically think about. 337 00:10:14,240 --> 00:10:15,000 There is. 338 00:10:15,000 --> 00:10:17,440 We learned about all the planets in grade school. 339 00:10:17,440 --> 00:10:21,760 Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune. 340 00:10:21,760 --> 00:10:22,320 Right. 341 00:10:22,320 --> 00:10:24,120 And of course, Pluto, even though it's 342 00:10:24,120 --> 00:10:25,720 been demoted to a dwarf planet. 343 00:10:25,720 --> 00:10:26,680 What else is out there? 344 00:10:26,680 --> 00:10:29,360 You're about to enter a region called the Oort Cloud. 345 00:10:29,360 --> 00:10:30,480 The Oort Cloud. 346 00:10:30,480 --> 00:10:32,880 Picture this, a vast spherical cloud 347 00:10:32,880 --> 00:10:36,840 of icy bodies trillions of miles outward from the sun. 348 00:10:36,840 --> 00:10:37,760 Wow. 349 00:10:37,760 --> 00:10:40,360 It's like a giant cosmic shell enveloping 350 00:10:40,360 --> 00:10:41,960 our entire solar system. 351 00:10:41,960 --> 00:10:46,240 So Voyager 1 is going to spend tens of thousands of years 352 00:10:46,240 --> 00:10:48,680 just traveling through this Oort Cloud. 353 00:10:48,680 --> 00:10:49,200 It is. 354 00:10:49,200 --> 00:10:50,760 What will it encounter there? 355 00:10:50,760 --> 00:10:53,440 The Oort Cloud is thought to be the source of long period 356 00:10:53,440 --> 00:10:54,120 comets. 357 00:10:54,120 --> 00:10:54,600 OK. 358 00:10:54,600 --> 00:10:57,680 Those icy wanderers that take hundreds or even thousands 359 00:10:57,680 --> 00:10:59,400 of years to orbit the sun. 360 00:10:59,400 --> 00:10:59,960 Right. 361 00:10:59,960 --> 00:11:01,720 While it's unlikely that Voyager 1 362 00:11:01,720 --> 00:11:04,720 will have a close encounter with any of these comets, 363 00:11:04,720 --> 00:11:07,000 it will be measuring the density and distribution 364 00:11:07,000 --> 00:11:09,960 of particles in this mysterious region, 365 00:11:09,960 --> 00:11:12,480 giving us valuable data about the outer reaches 366 00:11:12,480 --> 00:11:13,440 of our solar system. 367 00:11:13,440 --> 00:11:14,160 That's incredible. 368 00:11:14,160 --> 00:11:16,760 So even after all these years, Voyager 1 369 00:11:16,760 --> 00:11:19,280 is still sending back valuable information, 370 00:11:19,280 --> 00:11:21,480 helping us understand the universe around us. 371 00:11:21,480 --> 00:11:22,120 It truly is. 372 00:11:22,120 --> 00:11:23,640 And it's not alone out there. 373 00:11:23,640 --> 00:11:24,080 Right. 374 00:11:24,080 --> 00:11:25,000 Voyager 2. 375 00:11:25,000 --> 00:11:26,080 Remember Voyager 2? 376 00:11:26,080 --> 00:11:28,160 Of course, it's the one that visited Uranus and Neptune, 377 00:11:28,160 --> 00:11:28,720 right? 378 00:11:28,720 --> 00:11:30,640 Is it also headed out of the solar system? 379 00:11:30,640 --> 00:11:31,280 It is. 380 00:11:31,280 --> 00:11:34,200 Voyager 2 is on a slightly different trajectory 381 00:11:34,200 --> 00:11:35,480 than Voyager 1. 382 00:11:35,480 --> 00:11:38,840 It's headed towards a star called Ross 248, 383 00:11:38,840 --> 00:11:42,840 which it will pass within 1.7 light years in about 40,000 384 00:11:42,840 --> 00:11:43,480 years. 385 00:11:43,480 --> 00:11:44,040 Wow. 386 00:11:44,040 --> 00:11:47,200 After that, it's expected to cruise by Sirius, the brightest 387 00:11:47,200 --> 00:11:52,000 star in our night sky, in roughly 296,000 years. 388 00:11:52,000 --> 00:11:52,500 Wow. 389 00:11:52,500 --> 00:11:55,960 So both Voyager probes are on these incredibly long journeys. 390 00:11:55,960 --> 00:11:56,440 They are. 391 00:11:56,440 --> 00:11:59,080 Destined to wander the galaxy for eons, 392 00:11:59,080 --> 00:12:01,040 it makes you wonder, what are the chances 393 00:12:01,040 --> 00:12:03,040 that either of them will ever actually be 394 00:12:03,040 --> 00:12:05,440 found by an alien civilization? 395 00:12:05,440 --> 00:12:07,320 That's the million dollar question, isn't it? 396 00:12:07,320 --> 00:12:08,240 The galaxy is vast. 397 00:12:08,240 --> 00:12:08,720 Yeah. 398 00:12:08,720 --> 00:12:10,520 And the chances of an alien civilization 399 00:12:10,520 --> 00:12:13,440 stumbling upon a tiny, silent spacecraft 400 00:12:13,440 --> 00:12:15,680 are, well, astronomically small. 401 00:12:15,680 --> 00:12:16,800 But it's not impossible, right? 402 00:12:16,800 --> 00:12:17,240 Exactly. 403 00:12:17,240 --> 00:12:19,600 And that's what makes the Voyager mission so compelling. 404 00:12:19,600 --> 00:12:21,600 It's a testament to human ingenuity. 405 00:12:21,600 --> 00:12:25,800 And our insatiable curiosity about the universe, 406 00:12:25,800 --> 00:12:28,600 we've sent these emissaries out into the cosmos, 407 00:12:28,600 --> 00:12:31,280 carrying a message of who we are, 408 00:12:31,280 --> 00:12:33,600 even if they are never found it today. 409 00:12:33,600 --> 00:12:35,760 It's still a profound statement about our place 410 00:12:35,760 --> 00:12:36,560 in the universe. 411 00:12:36,560 --> 00:12:38,880 It's like throwing a message in a bottle into the ocean. 412 00:12:38,880 --> 00:12:40,200 You never know where it might end up. 413 00:12:40,200 --> 00:12:40,720 Right. 414 00:12:40,720 --> 00:12:43,320 But there's always a chance, however slim, 415 00:12:43,320 --> 00:12:45,320 that it might reach someone somewhere. 416 00:12:45,320 --> 00:12:46,320 A beautiful analogy. 417 00:12:46,320 --> 00:12:49,000 But the Voyager probes weren't the only spacecraft 418 00:12:49,000 --> 00:12:51,480 to set off on a journey beyond our solar system. 419 00:12:51,480 --> 00:12:52,040 Right. 420 00:12:52,040 --> 00:12:53,760 Remember New Horizons? 421 00:12:53,760 --> 00:12:55,320 Of course, New Horizons was the mission 422 00:12:55,320 --> 00:12:58,040 that gave us those incredible close-up images of Pluto 423 00:12:58,040 --> 00:12:59,080 in 2015. 424 00:12:59,080 --> 00:12:59,840 That's right. 425 00:12:59,840 --> 00:13:02,000 And after its Pluto encounter, New Horizons 426 00:13:02,000 --> 00:13:04,120 continued on a path that will eventually take it out 427 00:13:04,120 --> 00:13:05,480 of our solar system as well. 428 00:13:05,480 --> 00:13:07,000 So we actually have three spacecraft, 429 00:13:07,000 --> 00:13:10,280 Voyager 1, Voyager 2, and New Horizons, all heading out 430 00:13:10,280 --> 00:13:11,720 into interstellar space. 431 00:13:11,720 --> 00:13:12,720 We do. 432 00:13:12,720 --> 00:13:14,920 That's amazing what a legacy we're leaving out there. 433 00:13:14,920 --> 00:13:17,200 It really speaks to our drive to explore, doesn't it? 434 00:13:17,200 --> 00:13:17,700 Yeah. 435 00:13:17,700 --> 00:13:19,280 But what's even more interesting is 436 00:13:19,280 --> 00:13:21,800 that New Horizons carries its own unique message 437 00:13:21,800 --> 00:13:22,960 from humanity. 438 00:13:22,960 --> 00:13:24,200 Well, this sounds intriguing. 439 00:13:24,200 --> 00:13:26,640 What kind of message do we send with New Horizons? 440 00:13:26,640 --> 00:13:29,200 Well, it's not a golden record like on the Voyagers. 441 00:13:29,200 --> 00:13:29,680 OK. 442 00:13:29,680 --> 00:13:32,160 Instead, New Horizons carries a small container 443 00:13:32,160 --> 00:13:34,080 of the ashes of Clyde Tombo. 444 00:13:34,080 --> 00:13:35,040 Of Clyde Tombo? 445 00:13:35,040 --> 00:13:38,440 The astronomer who discovered Pluto back in 1930. 446 00:13:38,440 --> 00:13:39,040 Wow. 447 00:13:39,040 --> 00:13:41,280 Talk about a cosmic send-off. 448 00:13:41,280 --> 00:13:43,640 A part of the man who discovered Pluto 449 00:13:43,640 --> 00:13:46,000 is now on a journey to the stars. 450 00:13:46,000 --> 00:13:47,560 It's a poetic gesture, isn't it? 451 00:13:47,560 --> 00:13:49,240 It speaks to that deep connection 452 00:13:49,240 --> 00:13:51,760 we feel to the cosmos we explore, we discover, 453 00:13:51,760 --> 00:13:54,800 and in a way, we become part of the universe we're studying. 454 00:13:54,800 --> 00:13:58,400 So these three emissaries, each carrying a piece of humanity, 455 00:13:58,400 --> 00:14:02,320 are out there in the vastness of space. 456 00:14:02,320 --> 00:14:03,520 It's incredible to think about. 457 00:14:03,520 --> 00:14:05,920 It's like planting seeds on the cosmic wind 458 00:14:05,920 --> 00:14:08,520 with the potential to take root in ways we can't even imagine. 459 00:14:08,520 --> 00:14:10,000 It's a beautiful way to think about it. 460 00:14:10,000 --> 00:14:11,400 And while the Voyagers are nearing 461 00:14:11,400 --> 00:14:12,880 the end of their operational lives, 462 00:14:12,880 --> 00:14:16,360 New Horizons still has a lot of exploring left to do. 463 00:14:16,360 --> 00:14:19,360 It's currently studying the Kuiper Belt, a region 464 00:14:19,360 --> 00:14:22,160 beyond Neptune filled with icy objects left over 465 00:14:22,160 --> 00:14:24,200 from the formation of our solar system. 466 00:14:24,200 --> 00:14:26,640 So while the Voyagers are saying goodbye, 467 00:14:26,640 --> 00:14:29,120 New Horizons is just getting started 468 00:14:29,120 --> 00:14:31,160 on a new chapter of exploration. 469 00:14:31,160 --> 00:14:31,800 It is. 470 00:14:31,800 --> 00:14:32,840 It's like a relay race. 471 00:14:32,840 --> 00:14:33,320 Yeah. 472 00:14:33,320 --> 00:14:36,840 Isn't it a quest to understand our place in the cosmos passed 473 00:14:36,840 --> 00:14:38,000 down through generations? 474 00:14:38,000 --> 00:14:39,560 And speaking of generations, there's 475 00:14:39,560 --> 00:14:41,760 another fascinating aspect to the Voyager mission 476 00:14:41,760 --> 00:14:43,560 that's worth exploring. 477 00:14:43,560 --> 00:14:46,400 It's a testament to the human spirit of collaboration 478 00:14:46,400 --> 00:14:48,240 and long-term thinking. 479 00:14:48,240 --> 00:14:49,800 OK, tell me more. 480 00:14:49,800 --> 00:14:50,640 Well, think about it. 481 00:14:50,640 --> 00:14:53,640 The Voyager probes were launched in 1977. 482 00:14:53,640 --> 00:14:54,960 Yeah, way back when. 483 00:14:54,960 --> 00:14:58,440 The scientists and engineers who designed and built them 484 00:14:58,440 --> 00:15:01,280 knew they would never live to see the probes reach 485 00:15:01,280 --> 00:15:02,440 interstellar space. 486 00:15:02,440 --> 00:15:04,040 Right, so they were creating something 487 00:15:04,040 --> 00:15:05,000 that would outlive them. 488 00:15:05,000 --> 00:15:05,560 They were. 489 00:15:05,560 --> 00:15:07,840 A legacy project for future generations 490 00:15:07,840 --> 00:15:08,880 to inherit and learn from. 491 00:15:08,880 --> 00:15:09,380 Exactly. 492 00:15:09,380 --> 00:15:12,520 They were planting a tree whose shade they would never enjoy. 493 00:15:12,520 --> 00:15:15,400 It was an incredible act of faith in the future. 494 00:15:15,400 --> 00:15:17,400 A belief that the quest for knowledge 495 00:15:17,400 --> 00:15:20,240 is worth pursuing, even if the rewards 496 00:15:20,240 --> 00:15:22,480 lie beyond our own lifetimes. 497 00:15:22,480 --> 00:15:25,480 It's humbling to think about the dedication and foresight 498 00:15:25,480 --> 00:15:29,000 of those who came before us who paved the way for discoveries 499 00:15:29,000 --> 00:15:31,360 they would never witness themselves. 500 00:15:31,360 --> 00:15:33,480 It makes you wonder, what are we doing today 501 00:15:33,480 --> 00:15:36,920 that will inspire and benefit generations to come? 502 00:15:36,920 --> 00:15:39,560 What seeds of knowledge are we planting? 503 00:15:39,560 --> 00:15:41,000 That's a question worth pondering. 504 00:15:41,000 --> 00:15:42,520 But before we get too philosophical, 505 00:15:42,520 --> 00:15:45,640 let's shift our focus back to the here and now. 506 00:15:45,640 --> 00:15:47,640 There's one more fascinating story to tell 507 00:15:47,640 --> 00:15:48,920 about the Voyager mission. 508 00:15:48,920 --> 00:15:50,480 OK, lead the way. 509 00:15:50,480 --> 00:15:54,120 What other stories are hiding in the vast data set collected 510 00:15:54,120 --> 00:15:56,720 by these incredible probes? 511 00:15:56,720 --> 00:15:59,320 OK, I'm ready for that last Voyager story you mentioned. 512 00:15:59,320 --> 00:15:59,840 What is it? 513 00:15:59,840 --> 00:16:01,680 Remember how we talked about the heliosphere, 514 00:16:01,680 --> 00:16:04,520 that protective bubble created by the sun's solar wind? 515 00:16:04,520 --> 00:16:06,840 Yeah, it's like our solar system's personal force field, 516 00:16:06,840 --> 00:16:08,400 shielding us from harmful radiation 517 00:16:08,400 --> 00:16:09,760 from interstellar space, right? 518 00:16:09,760 --> 00:16:10,560 Exactly. 519 00:16:10,560 --> 00:16:12,960 And as the Voyager probes journeyed outward, 520 00:16:12,960 --> 00:16:15,560 they were actually able to study the heliosphere in ways 521 00:16:15,560 --> 00:16:17,280 we could never do from Earth. 522 00:16:17,280 --> 00:16:19,800 So they became probes not just of the planets, 523 00:16:19,800 --> 00:16:22,680 but of the very fabric of our solar system's protective 524 00:16:22,680 --> 00:16:23,920 bubble. 525 00:16:23,920 --> 00:16:25,360 That's incredible. 526 00:16:25,360 --> 00:16:28,240 What do they find out there at the edge of the sun's influence? 527 00:16:28,240 --> 00:16:30,080 Well, one of the most surprising discoveries 528 00:16:30,080 --> 00:16:32,040 was that the heliosphere isn't a perfect sphere, 529 00:16:32,040 --> 00:16:33,320 as we once thought. 530 00:16:33,320 --> 00:16:36,440 It's more like a teardrop shape, constantly being pushed 531 00:16:36,440 --> 00:16:39,360 and sculpted by the pressure of interstellar gas 532 00:16:39,360 --> 00:16:40,560 and magnetic fields. 533 00:16:40,560 --> 00:16:43,080 So it's dynamic, always changing, 534 00:16:43,080 --> 00:16:46,000 as it interacts with the interstellar environment. 535 00:16:46,000 --> 00:16:46,520 Yeah. 536 00:16:46,520 --> 00:16:47,240 That makes sense. 537 00:16:47,240 --> 00:16:49,640 It's not like there's a hard line where the sun's influence 538 00:16:49,640 --> 00:16:50,280 just stops. 539 00:16:50,280 --> 00:16:51,200 You got it. 540 00:16:51,200 --> 00:16:53,800 And the Voyagers were able to measure those changes, 541 00:16:53,800 --> 00:16:56,920 providing us with crucial data about how our solar system 542 00:16:56,920 --> 00:16:58,120 interacts with the galaxy. 543 00:16:58,120 --> 00:17:00,400 It's like they were taking the pulse of our solar system's 544 00:17:00,400 --> 00:17:01,800 protective shield. 545 00:17:01,800 --> 00:17:04,000 What an amazing thought. 546 00:17:04,000 --> 00:17:06,080 Those tiny probes giving us insight 547 00:17:06,080 --> 00:17:08,240 into processes happening on scales 548 00:17:08,240 --> 00:17:09,960 we can barely comprehend. 549 00:17:09,960 --> 00:17:11,720 And here's where it gets really interesting. 550 00:17:11,720 --> 00:17:14,080 The data from the Voyagers has helped scientists create 551 00:17:14,080 --> 00:17:16,640 better models of the heliosphere, which in turn 552 00:17:16,640 --> 00:17:19,760 has improved our understanding of space weather here on Earth. 553 00:17:19,760 --> 00:17:22,640 So these distant probes, billions of miles away, 554 00:17:22,640 --> 00:17:24,560 are actually helping us understand things 555 00:17:24,560 --> 00:17:25,960 that affect our own planet. 556 00:17:25,960 --> 00:17:29,040 You bet space weather refers to the conditions in space 557 00:17:29,040 --> 00:17:30,760 that can impact Earth. 558 00:17:30,760 --> 00:17:34,080 Things like solar flares, those bursts of intense energy 559 00:17:34,080 --> 00:17:36,640 from the sun, and coronal mass ejections, 560 00:17:36,640 --> 00:17:39,760 which are like giant bubbles of charged particles 561 00:17:39,760 --> 00:17:41,680 that the sun blasts into space. 562 00:17:41,680 --> 00:17:44,720 I remember reading about how these solar storms can disrupt 563 00:17:44,720 --> 00:17:48,480 satellites, power grids, and even radio communications. 564 00:17:48,480 --> 00:17:49,800 They can cause all sorts of havoc. 565 00:17:49,800 --> 00:17:50,840 Absolutely. 566 00:17:50,840 --> 00:17:52,960 And by studying the heliosphere and how 567 00:17:52,960 --> 00:17:55,120 it interacts with the interstellar medium, 568 00:17:55,120 --> 00:17:58,040 we can better predict and prepare for these events. 569 00:17:58,040 --> 00:17:59,840 The data from the Voyagers, along with data 570 00:17:59,840 --> 00:18:01,480 from other spacecraft, is helping 571 00:18:01,480 --> 00:18:04,480 us paint a more complete picture of how space weather works, 572 00:18:04,480 --> 00:18:07,120 allowing us to protect our technology and infrastructure 573 00:18:07,120 --> 00:18:08,040 here on Earth. 574 00:18:08,040 --> 00:18:10,480 So in a way, the Voyagers are still protecting us, 575 00:18:10,480 --> 00:18:12,640 even from billions of miles away. 576 00:18:12,640 --> 00:18:15,560 It's like they're giving back to the planet that launched them 577 00:18:15,560 --> 00:18:16,880 on this epic journey. 578 00:18:16,880 --> 00:18:18,520 That's a beautiful way to put it. 579 00:18:18,520 --> 00:18:20,680 And it really highlights this interconnectedness 580 00:18:20,680 --> 00:18:22,240 of everything in the universe, doesn't it? 581 00:18:22,240 --> 00:18:24,160 What happens out there in interstellar space 582 00:18:24,160 --> 00:18:26,400 can have real impacts right here on Earth. 583 00:18:26,400 --> 00:18:28,080 It makes you realize that we're not just 584 00:18:28,080 --> 00:18:29,560 inhabitants of this planet. 585 00:18:29,560 --> 00:18:32,120 We're citizens of the cosmos. 586 00:18:32,120 --> 00:18:34,080 What happens out there affects us, 587 00:18:34,080 --> 00:18:37,600 just as what we do here can affect the universe around us. 588 00:18:37,600 --> 00:18:39,880 A profound thought and a fitting reminder 589 00:18:39,880 --> 00:18:42,520 as we conclude our deep dive into the Voyager mission. 590 00:18:42,520 --> 00:18:44,480 I feel like we've been on an incredible journey 591 00:18:44,480 --> 00:18:48,080 from the planets to the heliosphere and beyond. 592 00:18:48,080 --> 00:18:50,240 The Voyagers have shown us the incredible beauty 593 00:18:50,240 --> 00:18:52,680 and vastness of the universe, haven't they? 594 00:18:52,680 --> 00:18:54,040 They certainly have. 595 00:18:54,040 --> 00:18:57,000 And they've left us with a legacy of exploration 596 00:18:57,000 --> 00:19:01,200 and discovery that will continue to inspire generations to come. 597 00:19:01,200 --> 00:19:02,680 It's inspiring, to say the least. 598 00:19:02,680 --> 00:19:05,200 If you're ever feeling small or insignificant, 599 00:19:05,200 --> 00:19:08,000 just remember those two little probes out there, 600 00:19:08,000 --> 00:19:10,520 hurtling through the vastness of space, 601 00:19:10,520 --> 00:19:13,120 carrying a message from humanity to the stars. 602 00:19:13,120 --> 00:19:14,000 What a legacy. 603 00:19:14,000 --> 00:19:15,520 And remember, if you want to learn more 604 00:19:15,520 --> 00:19:17,920 about the Voyager mission, there's a wealth of information 605 00:19:17,920 --> 00:19:19,000 available online. 606 00:19:19,000 --> 00:19:21,760 You can find images, videos, even the sounds 607 00:19:21,760 --> 00:19:24,080 from the golden record on NASA's website. 608 00:19:24,080 --> 00:19:25,400 It's definitely worth checking out. 609 00:19:25,400 --> 00:19:26,400 It is. 610 00:19:26,400 --> 00:19:28,800 And before we wrap up, don't forget to follow and subscribe 611 00:19:28,800 --> 00:19:31,600 to Cosmos in a Pod and our YouTube channel 612 00:19:31,600 --> 00:19:34,280 for more explorations of the cosmos. 613 00:19:34,280 --> 00:19:35,960 We'll be back soon with another deep dive 614 00:19:35,960 --> 00:19:38,240 into the mysteries of the universe. 615 00:19:38,240 --> 00:19:40,000 Until then, keep looking up, keep exploring, 616 00:19:40,000 --> 00:20:06,800 and keep wondering.