Space

Voyager 1 captures the sounds of interstellar space

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September 12, 2013

NASA has announced that the first human-made object left the confines of our solar system a year ago. It is now traveling beyond the heliosphere, or sphere of our sun’s influence. NASA made the announcement on September 12, 2013 that the Voyager 1 spacecraft – launched from Earth in 1977 – has now officially entered interstellar space. NASA also released this video, in which the sounds of interstellar space can be heard. In fact, the science team used these sounds to help determine the density of space through which Voyager 1 is now passing.

The 36-year-old probe is about 12 billion miles (19 billion kilometers) from our sun.

Bottom line: Sounds of interstellar space, from the amazing Voyager 1 spacecraft.

Click here to visualize where Voyager 1 is now

Click here to read more about Voyager 1’s momentous passage into interstellar space.

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September 12, 2013

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Space

Deborah Byrd

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Our Editor-in-Chief Deborah Byrd works to keep all the astronomy balls in the air between EarthSky's website, YouTube page and social media platforms. She's the primary editor of our popular daily newsletter and a frequent host of EarthSky livestreams. Deborah created the EarthSky radio series in 1991 and founded EarthSky.org in 1994. Prior to that, she had worked for the University of Texas McDonald Observatory since 1976, and created and produced their Star Date radio series. She has won a galaxy of awards from the broadcasting and science communities, including having an asteroid named 3505 Byrd in her honor. In 2020, she won the Education Prize from the American Astronomical Society, the largest organization of professional astronomers in North America. A science communicator and educator since 1976, Byrd believes in science as a force for good in the world and a vital tool for the 21st century. "Being an EarthSky editor is like hosting a big global party for cool nature-lovers," she says.