426
submitted 5 days ago by floofloof@lemmy.ca to c/space@lemmy.world
you are viewing a single comment's thread
view the rest of the comments
[-] luves2spooge@lemmy.world 19 points 5 days ago

I think for the Voyager launches the planets and the sun were aligned in such a way that the probes could be slingshotted around them to gain speed. I think such an alignment is quite rare?

[-] BakerBagel@midwest.social 16 points 4 days ago

It's a bit more complicated than that. New Horizons actually went way faster than the Voyager probes, getting to Pluto in only 9.5 years. It took Voyager 2 just slightly longer than 12 years to reach Neptune for comparison. The planetary alignment you are thinking about was due to relative proximity. Obviously you can't use Saturn to slingshot you to Uranus if they are on opposite sides of the solar system. All the outer planets were going to be on the same side of the solar system, allowing the Voyager probes to visit them all in succession.

[-] bstix@feddit.dk 3 points 4 days ago

It only happens every 400 years or so.

It's pretty crazy to think about. The Voyager mission isn't just a big thing for the current generations, but also for many future generations, who will not have as good an opportunity.

this post was submitted on 31 Oct 2024
426 points (99.8% liked)

Space

8669 readers
169 users here now

Share & discuss informative content on: Astrophysics, Cosmology, Space Exploration, Planetary Science and Astrobiology.


Rules

  1. Be respectful and inclusive.
  2. No harassment, hate speech, or trolling.
  3. Engage in constructive discussions.
  4. Share relevant content.
  5. Follow guidelines and moderators' instructions.
  6. Use appropriate language and tone.
  7. Report violations.
  8. Foster a continuous learning environment.

Picture of the Day

The Busy Center of the Lagoon Nebula


Related Communities

๐Ÿ”ญ Science

๐Ÿš€ Engineering

๐ŸŒŒ Art and Photography


Other Cool Links

founded 1 year ago
MODERATORS