Voyager 2, launched on August 20, 1977, was designed as a twin to Voyager 1 but took a different trajectory, making it the only spacecraft to visit all four outer planets. It conducted flybys of Jupiter (July 1979) and Saturn (August 1981) before continuing on to Uranus (January 1986) and Neptune (August 1989). During these encounters, it discovered several new moons, detected a magnetic field around Uranus, and provided the first close-up images of Neptune’s Great Dark Spot. Voyager 2’s observations revealed the complexities of planetary atmospheres, ring systems, and magnetic fields, significantly expanding our knowledge of the outer solar system.
After completing its planetary tour, Voyager 2 continued traveling outward and crossed the heliopause on November 5, 2018, officially entering interstellar space six years after its twin. This confirmed that the boundary of the Sun’s influence is dynamic and changes over time. Like Voyager 1, it continues to transmit scientific data, particularly on the properties of interstellar plasma and magnetic fields. Though its power is gradually depleting, it is expected to operate into the 2030s before becoming an eternal wanderer in the Milky Way. Voyager 2 also carries a Golden Record, a time capsule of Earth’s culture, sounds, and images, intended for any potential extraterrestrial civilization that might encounter it in the distant future.
How long has it been since the Launch of the Voyager 2?
7 months,
13 days,
12h : 27m : 56s
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