Standing on the Porch
In November 2026, Voyager 1, the space probe that left Earth back in September 1977, will reach light day away.
James Felton, IFLScience:
In late 2026, a human-made object will reach a full light-day away from the Earth for the first time in human history.
If the galaxy were the continental United States, one light-day would be about the width of a parking space.
We sent the farthest-traveling object in human history into space 49 years ago, kept it running with 1970s engineering through multiple crises, and in 60 days it will be metaphorically only standing on the porch.
That's both a genuine triumph and a humbling reminder of how vast the territory is beyond it.
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Links:
- In November 2026, A Human-Made Object Will Reach A Light-Day From Earth For First Time In History, by James Felton, IFLScience
- One Light-Day Away: Time incomprehensible, by Thoughts of Widdershins