Well, you could have read the article I linked toGreg Bernhardt said:
Why is magnetic field information important there? The particle detection is to estimate the density of particles?Flyboy said:
Are you proposing that we fly the spacecraft back to earth, remove the instrument and send it out again?pines-demon said:
Maybe, that way it can travel more lightly, I mean, what is a couple of billion km anyway?Vanadium 50 said:Are you proposing that we fly the spacecraft back to earth, remove the instrument and send it out again?
It really puts things into scale when you compare that'enormous distance' with the nearest star, that's four light years distantphinds said:
It's hard to 'justify' a decision about the experiments on a mission that was launched all those years ago. I imagine there were dozens of groups who wanted a ride on the mission and the final selectiion of experiments would have been based on what could be done, how heavy would the gear be and what electrical load would be needed. And, of course, the expected reliability - they got that one right didn't they?pines-demon said:
Yes. However can we detect the sun magnetic field at that distance?? Do you mean solar wind?russ_watters said:
Google is your friend. You should learn to use it.pines-demon said:
Try again, also from a search away:phinds said:
You do have a point, all those measurements served for something now it just has them so why not. But at some point it is mostly noise. Reconverting my question: could the result of any of those measurements be of interest? Or it is mostly data that is being reported in case there something unusual at some point...Vanadium 50 said:
According to my first clip, the sun's magnetic field goes out is 18.5 billion miles, I'd say it's still measuring the sun's magnetic field since Voyager is only out 15.5 billion milespines-demon said:
You detect it from in it. So it is reading the field strength at that distance/ location.pines-demon said:
The question is now, is it important? Can somebody provide an order of magnitude?russ_watters said:
According to Wikipedia, the Voyager did get rid of various instruments. Including the cameras.russ_watters said:
Check those numbers again 15.1 billion miles is bigger than 18.5 billion kmphinds said:
I don't understand the question.pines-demon said:
What is the magnetic field measured in that region of space. Is is 1 nT, 1 attoT? Is it relevant at all?russ_watters said:
pines-demon said:
How 'small' a reading would be irrelevant? There are no 'zeros' out there and every value of every variable has its place. Our lives on Earth are governed by many variables and we are familiar with some (like g and the solar constant) but the variables in most of outer space have much lower values. But it's the exact values of all those variables that determines how galaxies are formed etc. etc. If you have any interest in such matters then you should be aware of the relevance of very small values.pines-demon said:
That guy just doesn't count here. 'He' is protected by the experts who recognise when something is interesting in their terms and use it responsibly. Watch out for the commercials though.Vanadium 50 said:
At some point the magnetometer is not precise enough to measure the magnetic field if it is too small, it will measure noise.sophiecentaur said:
Finally a response that works like an answer. Thanks!Vanadium 50 said:
There is actually no such point. Variations of received data can be analysed ad infinitem and the signalling bandwidth is reduced further and further. I just takes longer. Neither you nor I know where Voyager is in this deterioration signal to noise ratio progress.pines-demon said:
I already acknowledged this point.Vanadium 50 said:
As already pointed out, the magnetic field of the Sun falls with distance, at some point it has to be undetectable. But we have not been able to provide an order of magnitude.sophiecentaur said: