We need to understand the Sun

[ToSeek]

Our unknown solar system

Voyager 1 has finally reached the frontier of interstellar space. The fact that a man-made object is now approaching the heliopause, where the solar winds cease to blow, is a remarkable achievement. Looking back whence it came, the little space probe sees a system that humans have just begun to explore and understand. The biggest and most important unknown is at the center of it all, our local star, the Sun.
...
Some claim that the exploration vision requires that NASA give up its space science objectives in order to concentrate on building systems such as the CEV. In fact, it is logical to assume that understanding the solar system environment is just as important to the vision as building the next generation of manned spacecraft.

[George]

So it is now officially leaving the Sun's atmosphere. =D>

As it looks back at the Sun, there is a colorful question I could ask (ok, I won't). :wink:

[frogesque]

So it is now officially leaving the Sun's atmosphere. =D>

As it looks back at the Sun, there is a colorful question I could ask (ok, I won't). :wink:

Take your pick :wink:

I still think peachy pink is cool 8)

[Jorge]

Nah, green...
then we can say: where the blue rock next to the green star

[George]

but I didn't ask the question. (maybe a little begging)

I doubt Voyager can answer it. :-?

[Swift]

but I didn't ask the question. (maybe a little begging)

I doubt Voyager can answer it. :-?

It can't. The cameras failed long ago. :-?

[George]

but I didn't ask the question. (maybe a little begging)

I doubt Voyager can answer it. :-?

It can't. The cameras failed long ago. :-?

I wonder if it tried to look at the Sun? Most space imaging systems, I think, can not angle near the Sun. Hubble is limited to 85 deg., IIRC. which is nearly half the sky.

[aurora]

I wonder if it tried to look at the Sun? Most space imaging systems, I think, can not angle near the Sun. Hubble is limited to 85 deg., IIRC. which is nearly half the sky.

Here is a link to an Adobe Acrobat poster, that pastes together a string of images that Voyager took of our entire solar system (except Pluto) plus includes a famous quote from Sagan. The images show that even from the edge of our solar system, the camera had to take a lot of pictures to get everything in scale.

http://obs.nineplanets.org/psc/guest/SaganPoster1.pdf

[George]

I wonder if it tried to look at the Sun? Most space imaging systems, I think, can not angle near the Sun. Hubble is limited to 85 deg., IIRC. which is nearly half the sky.

Here is a link to an Adobe Acrobat poster, that pastes together a string of images that Voyager took of our entire solar system (except Pluto) plus includes a famous quote from Sagan. The images show that even from the edge of our solar system, the camera had to take a lot of pictures to get everything in scale.

http://obs.nineplanets.org/psc/guest/SaganPoster1.pdf

Thanks. It must be Sagan day....

Here are about 3 more views and Sagan's prose..... Martian Chronicles thread