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Voyager 1 at the edge of the solar system 


Voyager 1 has entered a new region between our solar system and interstellar space, which scientists are calling the stagnation region. In the stagnation region, the wind of charged particles streaming out from our sun has slowed and turned inward for the first time, our solar system's magnetic field has piled up and higher-energy particles from inside our solar system appear to be leaking out into interstellar space.

This image shows that the inner edge of the stagnation region is located about 113 astronomical units from the Sun. Voyager 1 is currently about 119 astronomical units from the sun. The distance to the outer edge is unknown, but Voyager 1 should cross it eventually.

Original image data dated on or about December 5, 2011

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 LightSail 2 fiducials schematic Marquette Island in enhanced color Amateur views of Neptune Global view of Tethys from Cassini Voyager 2 views of Neptune's moons Larissa, Nereid, and Proteus