Voyager at 90 AU

[Repost from my MeFi thread]

Far, far away: Today, Voyager 1 will reach 90 AU from the sun, around which distance it is expected to meet the “termination shock,” finally crossing into the fuzzy boundary between the heliosphere and true interstellar space. (Yes, it’s taken that long to get there.) Some even think that the termination shock has already been reached, but then re-expanded past the spacecraft. Tears need not be shed yet for these distant explorers: both Voyagers have juice till about 2020, and the mission remains very much alive. (No word, however, on a possible return to the Creator.)

Update: Free lecture at the NASM tonight, but I can’t attend since I don’t have time to go there and pick up tickets.