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Astronomy: Voyager

Voyager 1 was launched on 5 September 1977, a few weeks later than Voyager 2, but it flew a faster path arriving at Jupiter in March of 1979. In November 1980 it arrived at Saturn.

Voyager 2 was launched on 20 August 1977 and arrived at Jupiter in July 1979. In August 1981 it arrived at Saturn.

Both spacecrafts were not only collecting data when in the proximity of a planet. Scanning widely around the planets, the span of the magnetic field and the radiation was measured.
Also the Voyagers showed us much more details than the Pioneer spacecrafts did in 1973 and 1979 for these two giant planets.
The Saturn ring system was much more sophisticated than thought of before and spectacular observations were made of the planets and their natural satellites.

Other discoveries by Voyager 1 and 2:

Jupiter's moon Io was found to have active volcanism, the only solar system body other than the Earth to be so confirmed.
It is thought that this is caused by its epiliptical and low orbit around Jupiter which in effect means Jupiter has a very strong and varying gravital pull on Io. The moon endures enormous powers of Jupiter, which melts the inner structure.

Jupiter was found to have rings.

Saturn's rings were found to contain spokes in the B-ring and a braided structure in the F-ring.

Auroral zones were discovered at Jupiter and Saturn.

Voyager 2, beyond Jupiter and Saturn

By measuring how the planets Uranus (January 1986) and Neptune (August 1989) pulled at Voyager 2, their density was calculated. Both planets have a higher density than Jupiter, which is likely to be caused because these planets consist of heavier gasses. Astronomers have speculated that the planets can consist of water, ammonia, methane and a central rocky core.

Voyager 2 also discovered that Uranus and Neptune have magnetic fields just like Jupiter, only these fields are highly inclined from the planet's rotational axis. The origin of these magnetic field therefor must be different.

Because the spacecraft couldn't see the surface through the thick clouds, the discovery of the existence of magnetic fields is very important.
Magnetic fields tell us that the planets must (partly) consist of liquid, that there is internal heat so the liquid is in motion and that the region is electrically conducting.

Other discoveries by Voyager 2:

Before Voyager 2 arrived at Uranus only 5 moons were known. Voyager 2 revealed 10 more moons orbiting the planet. But note that we now know that Uranus has 21 moons.

At Neputune the spacecraft revealed 6 more moons, bringing the total at 8.

Triton was found to have active geyser-like structures which appear as dark stripes. And an atmosphere was discovered.

Auroral zones were discovered at Neptune.

Two new rings were discovered at Uranus and Neptune's rings, originally thought to be only ring arcs, were found to be complete, composed of fine material.

At Neptune, originally thought to be too cold to support such atmospheric disturbances, large-scale storms like the Great Dark Spot were discovered.

Related subjects

>> Jupiter
>> Jupiter's moon Io
>> Saturn
>> Uranus
>> Neptune
>> Neptune's Great Dark Spot

One of the Voyager spacecrafts

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