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NASA’s Voyager 2 could be nearing interstellar space

Increase in cosmic rays that originate outside our solar system.

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NASA‘s Voyager 2 probe, which is traveling through the outermost layer of the heliosphere, has detected an increase in cosmic rays that originate outside our solar system.

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In August, scientists observed that the instrument in Voyager 2, named Cosmic Ray Subsystem had observed 5% increment in cosmic rays hitting the spacecraft. The probe’s Low-Energy Charged Particle instrument has distinguished a comparative increment in higher-energy cosmic rays. Mission organizers expect that Voyager 2 will quantify an expansion in the rate of cosmic rays as it methodologies and crosses the limit of the heliosphere.

In May 2012, Voyager 1 experienced an increase in the rate of cosmic rays similar to what Voyager 2 is now detecting. That was about three months before Voyager 1 crossed the heliopause and entered interstellar space.

Though, Scientists noted that this increment is not a definitive sign that the probe is about to cross the heliopause. Voyager 2 is in a different location in the heliosheath — the outer region of the heliosphere — than Voyager 1 had been, and possible differences in these locations mean Voyager 2 may experience a different exit timeline than Voyager 1.

Voyager Project Scientist Ed Stone said, “We’re seeing a change in the environment around Voyager 2, there’s no doubt about that. We’re going to learn a lot in the coming months, but we still don’t know when we’ll reach the heliopause. We’re not there yet — that’s one thing I can say with confidence.”

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