Where is Voyager 1 Headed and When Will It Get There?

-- | October 31, 2013

Question: The Voyager 1 spacecraft has left our solar system and is now in interstellar space but where exactly is it heading now and at its present speed how long will it take to get there. — David

Answer: I found the answer to this question on the Voyager FAQ page. From the information on this page you can learn that Voyager 1 is escaping the solar system at a speed of about 3.5 Astronomical Units (AU: the average distance between the Earth and our Sun) per year along a direction that is 35 degrees out of the ecliptic plane to the north, in the general direction of the Sun’s motion motion relative to nearby stars. Voyager 1 in headed in the direction of the constellation Ophiuchus. In the year 40,272 AD, Voyager 1 will come within 1.7 light years of an obscure star in the constellation Ursa Minor called AC+79 3888.

Just for your information, Voyager 2 is also escaping the solar system at a speed of about 3.1 AU per year, 48 degrees out of the ecliptic plane to the south toward the constellations of Sagitarrius and Pavo. In about 40,000 years, Voyager 2 will come within about 1.7 light years of a star called Ross 248 the constellation of Andromeda.

Finally, if you want to see a very cool graphic which shows the trajectory of the Pioneer 10, Pioneer 11, Voyager 1, Voyager 2, and New Horizons spacecraft out of our solar system, check out the Spacecraft Escaping the Solar System page produced by the folks at Heavens Above.

Jeff Mangum

Facebook

Twitter

The National Radio Astronomy Observatory is a facility of the National Science Foundation operated under cooperative agreement by Associated Universities, Inc.
	Founded in 1956, the NRAO provides state-of-the-art radio telescope facilities for use by the international scientific community. NRAO telescopes are open to all astronomers regardless of institutional or national affiliation. Observing time on NRAO telescopes is available on a competitive basis to qualified scientists after evaluation of research proposals on the basis of scientific merit, the capability of the instruments to do the work, and the availability of the telescope during the requested time. NRAO also provides both formal and informal programs in education and public outreach for teachers, students, the general public, and the media.
	The National Science Foundation (NSF) is an independent federal agency created by Congress in 1950 "to promote the progress of science; to advance the national health, prosperity, and welfare; to secure the national defense..."
	AUI collaborates with the scientific community and research sponsors to plan, build, and operate cutting-edge facilities. We cultivate excellence, deliver value, enhance education, and engage the public.