X

As Voyager 1 nears edge of the solar system, a last look back (pictures)

Before NASA's peripatetic space craft, which is soon expected to head into parts unknown, a review of some of the more stunning images sent back since 1977.

Charles Cooper
Charles Cooper was an executive editor at CNET News. He has covered technology and business for more than 25 years, working at CBSNews.com, the Associated Press, Computer & Software News, Computer Shopper, PC Week, and ZDNet.
Charles Cooper
voy1.png
1 of 8 JPL/NASA

Jupiter in all its glory

OK, looks like everyone may have gotten a bit ahead of themselves. Earlier today, a spate of stories made the rounds to the effect that NASA's Voyager 1 had left the solar system. Not so fast, said Edward Stone, Voyager project scientist based at the California Institute of Technology, who says the "consensus of the Voyager science team" is that Voyager 1 is still making its way through the solar system and has not yet reached interstellar space. However, it's only a matter of time before the craft indeed exits the border region that astronomers call "the magnetic highway." (Astronomers believed the craft reached the magnetic highway region on July 28, 2012. )

This is not the last word on the topic as several papers addressing the dispute over whether Voyager 1 is still in our solar system will be issued by Voyager scientists in coming weeks.

But barring the unexpected, it's only a matter of time before Voyager 1's journey continues deeper into space. At that point, maybe we'll even see more beauties like this spectacular photo of Jupiter taken by Voyager 1 on February 5, 1979. Hopefully.

voy4.png
2 of 8 JPL/NASA

Jupiter's Great Red

Jupiter's Great Red Spot enhanced to accentuate variations in the Jovian atmosphere.
voy7.png
3 of 8 JPL/NASA

Saturn up close

Voyager 1, which like its sister craft Voyager 2 launched in 1977, now owns the record of being the most distant human-made object, about 11 billion miles from the sun. In this image, you can see an amazing shot Voyager 1 took of Saturn and the shadow of its ring system.
voy3.png
4 of 8 JPL/NASA

Jupiter and two satellites

Jupiter and two of its moons (Io, left, and Europa).
voy2.png
5 of 8 JPL/NASA

Jupiter's Great Red Spot

Jupiter's Great Red Spot photographed by Voyager 1 on February 25, 1979, when the spacecraft was 5.7 million miles away.
voy6.png
6 of 8 JPL/NASA

Io's volcanic plains

Another look at Io's volcanic plains with volcanic calderas and lava flows visible in the image.
voy8.png
7 of 8 JPL/NASA

An active plume of Loki

An image of Io showing an active plume of Loki.
voy9.png
8 of 8 JPL/NASA

Where are you, Voyager 1?

Artist representation of NASA's Voyager 1 as it makes its way through the region in our solar system called the "magnetic highway."

More Galleries

My Favorite Shots From the Galaxy S24 Ultra's Camera
A houseplant

My Favorite Shots From the Galaxy S24 Ultra's Camera

20 Photos
Honor's Magic V2 Foldable Is Lighter Than Samsung's Galaxy S24 Ultra
magic-v2-2024-foldable-1383

Honor's Magic V2 Foldable Is Lighter Than Samsung's Galaxy S24 Ultra

10 Photos
The Samsung Galaxy S24 and S24 Plus Looks Sweet in Aluminum
Samsung Galaxy S24

The Samsung Galaxy S24 and S24 Plus Looks Sweet in Aluminum

23 Photos
Samsung's Galaxy S24 Ultra Now Has a Titanium Design
The Galaxy S24 Ultra in multiple colors

Samsung's Galaxy S24 Ultra Now Has a Titanium Design

23 Photos
I Took 600+ Photos With the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max. Look at My Favorites
img-0368.jpg

I Took 600+ Photos With the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max. Look at My Favorites

34 Photos
17 Hidden iOS 17 Features You Should Definitely Know About
Invitation for the Apple September iPhone 15 event

17 Hidden iOS 17 Features You Should Definitely Know About

18 Photos
AI or Not AI: Can You Spot the Real Photos?
img-1599-2.jpg

AI or Not AI: Can You Spot the Real Photos?

17 Photos