Category Archives: astronomy

astronomy, voyager

Voyager: Exploring the Realm of the Giants

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The Voyager Mission

the Voyager spacecraft
The Voyager spacecraft twins are still working and still returning data, 40 years after their launch. Courtesy NASA/JPL-CalTech

I’ve been thinking about the Voyager mission lately. Last week marked the 40th anniversary of the launch of these two hardy spacecraft to explore the gas giants of the solar system. They weren’t the first spacecraft to get “out there”. That honor belongs to the Pioneer 10 and Pioneer 11 spacecraft that preceded them. Those two explored Jupiter and Saturn, whetting our appetites for more.

The Voyager 2 mission is the first one I ever covered as a science writer, so it holds a very special place in my memories. I flew out to JPL in August of 1981 to watch the images and data come flowing back as the spacecraft whizzed past Saturn. I returned two more times to cover the flybys of Uranus and Neptune in 1986 and 1989, respectively. Those were seminal experiences for me and led me directly back to school to study more science.

Voyager’s Achievements

For the scientists involved, the Voyager mission is their life’s work. The data the spacecraft returned are still contributing to our knowledge of the gas giant planets. These flagship missions inspired others to follow. The Cassini spacecraft is currently ending its mission to Saturn. The Galileo mission went to Jupiter and did in-depth studies there. The New Horizons spacecraft to Pluto broke many records and is well on its way to the next target. Finally, the Juno mission that arrived at Jupiter last year is sending back even better looks at the largest planet and is winding up its last orbits this year. Planetary science has never had it so good, and I hope it gets even better!

Voyager’s Achievements

voyager targets
The planets visited by the Voyager spacecraft; Voyager 1 flew past Jupiter and Saturn; Voyager 2 flew past all four gas giant planets. Courtesy NASA/JPL

Both Voyager spacecraft are still working, still sending back data from just beyond our solar system’s heliospheric boundary. Voyager 1 is the first to actually leave the heliosphere behind and is headed to deep space. Voyager 2 is not far behind. And, incredibly, they’re both still working pretty well and will continue to do so until their energy runs low within the next decade.

Along the way out toward the stars, they showed flew past four gas giants, sending back glorious images of planets, moons, rings, and massive atmospheres. They revealed dozens of new moons and provided incredibly detailed close-up looks at cratered surfaces, turbulent clouds, lightning storms, aurorae, and much more.

Personal Reflections on Voyager

I have to admit that when I first asked if I could go cover the Voyager 2/Saturn flyby for the Denver Post, I was motivated more by the chance to visit the world-famous JPL and hang with scientists than I was by the chance to learn the science. By that, I mean I already knew that there’d be cool science. But, the rare chance to meet and mingle with people such as Carl Sagan and Ed Stone and other Voyager scientists (including a few from Colorado who I knew from my undergraduate days there), was just too much to pass up. And so, off I went and spent several days absolutely immersed in planetary science. I wrote a couple of stories that I had to phone into the copy desk at the paper, and in the process, gained a nickname I still have: Spacewriter. I was also called “The Planet Lady” by the copy desk folk. All because I had the audacity to ask if I could go cover something bigger than anything I’d imagined. And, my editor, an amiable guy named Bob, told me to be good and do good. So, I did. And, I was dazzled by the science, the pictures, the sights and sounds of the flyby, and the absolute dedication of the science teams doing the work.

I’ve been back to JPL many times since then, covering various missions. I’ve also covered a few at the Kennedy Space Center and Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Lab (for New Horizons). Make no mistake about it: they’ve all been exciting. Perhaps because it was my first, Voyager 2 at Saturn will always stand out in my mind slightly above the rest — not because the others were bad, but because it opened doors for me. It taught me a lot about the planets, but also about the science teams and the science itself. I’ll always want more.

Want to see more about the Voyage achievements? Check out JPL’s story about this set of missions.

astronomy, eclipses, totality

Edging up to Totality

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As Totality Day gets Closer

eclipse glasses to wear before totality
Eclipse glasses are the “go to” fashion need for every gazer as you watch the Sun slip into totality. Copyright 2012 Carolyn Collins Petersen
Some last-minute thoughts about the upcoming eclipse to help you get ready.
A week or so back, I wrote about some common-sense things to remember as you view totality during the solar eclipse this month. Everything I said remains valid. However, in the past week or so, I’ve seen reports that unscrupulous sellers are marketing eclipse glasses and hand-held viewers that may not protect your eyes AT ALL. Apparently, some were being sold via Amazon.com, and that company pulled the products from its online selling area.  Others are showing up in stores and  from street vendors. It’s wise to be wary of any that you suspect might not be safe to use.

The American Astronomical Society has put out a release about this.  Go read their article as soon as you can; it’s chock full of good and helpful info. That organization (I’m a long-time member) and others have been warning people to check for the ISO certification on the solar viewers and eclipse glasses they have, and it now turns out (no surprise) that some jerks are printing it on merchandise to make a buck.  You can check a list of vendors approved to sell such glasses to make sure yours are okay.

Checking Your Viewers

Protect your peepers!
How do you know if the glasses you have safe to use, regardless of what’s printed on them?  Hold them up to the Sun.  You should be able to see the Sun through them (don’t wear them, just hold them up). Next, hold them up to a lamp or ceiling light. If you can see those lights through them, they’re NOT safe for solar viewing. The only thing you can see through a safely produced set of glasses or a handheld viewer should be the Sun.  You can also check for light leaks and pinpricks in the solar filter material while you’re at it.  Do this simple safety check before you put them on or let your loved ones use them.

When to Use Your Viewers

Viewers and solar eclipse glasses are for use during the pre-totality periods, when the Sun isn’t completely blocked. Once totality starts — AND, YOU ARE IN THE PATH OF TOTALITY — then you can take them off and look directly at the Sun. This only lasts for a couple of minutes before you have to put the glasses back on.

Please don’t take a chance with your eyes, or your loved one’s eyes.
 Check your glasses in advance. If you got rooked, get a different pair from a planetarium or library.  If you got them through Amazon, you can probably get your money back.   Enjoy the eclipse, but don’t risk your eyesight with crap sold by dishonest jerks who care more about making money than they do about your eyes.

The Roads to Totality

You won’t be the only one on the road!
You’ve probably heard there will be a few people on the road the day of totality, heading for the path to soak in some umbral experience. It’s true. Millions of people WILL be heading out to do that. If you are going to wait til the day of the eclipse, I urge you to be prepared. If it’s a day trip, don’t depend on local services where you’re going, unless you already have a spot selected and arrangements made. No matter what, bring food, water, TP, sunblock, a hat, and make sure the car is gassed up. I’ve heard that cellular services could be overwhelmed for short periods of time as people try to navigate to their spots and upload pics and call their friends, etc.

My recommendation is to leave very early.  Like, the day before, and get yourself in place. If you don’t have arrangements for a place to stay, you may end up sleeping in your car. The instructions above still apply: be prepared. And, once totality is over, also be prepared to be waiting a long time before you can drive home.  It may take several hours for roads to clear.

Most Important of All: Enjoy Totality

The experience of an eclipse is an amazing one. This one will be my seventh total solar eclipse and I expect it to be short, beautiful, and memorable. Once you are in place, enjoy it. Look around during totality, marvel at the changes you see. And, once it’s over, you’ll have experienced one of nature’s most intriguing events.