1 00:00:06,529 --> 00:00:09,410 it's been traveling for nearly 12 years 2 00:00:09,410 --> 00:00:09,420 it's been traveling for nearly 12 years 3 00:00:09,420 --> 00:00:12,200 it's been traveling for nearly 12 years it has already logged more than 4 4 00:00:12,200 --> 00:00:12,210 it has already logged more than 4 5 00:00:12,210 --> 00:00:22,040 it has already logged more than 4 billion miles in its lifetime it's been 6 00:00:22,040 --> 00:00:22,050 billion miles in its lifetime it's been 7 00:00:22,050 --> 00:00:24,109 billion miles in its lifetime it's been to places humans had once only dreamed 8 00:00:24,109 --> 00:00:24,119 to places humans had once only dreamed 9 00:00:24,119 --> 00:00:27,890 to places humans had once only dreamed about and on August twenty-fourth 1989 10 00:00:27,890 --> 00:00:27,900 about and on August twenty-fourth 1989 11 00:00:27,900 --> 00:00:30,609 about and on August twenty-fourth 1989 at nine p.m. pacific daylight time 12 00:00:30,609 --> 00:00:30,619 at nine p.m. pacific daylight time 13 00:00:30,619 --> 00:00:41,389 at nine p.m. pacific daylight time Voyager 2 will make history again 14 00:00:41,389 --> 00:00:41,399 15 00:00:41,399 --> 00:00:44,310 it will become the first spacecraft to 16 00:00:44,310 --> 00:00:44,320 it will become the first spacecraft to 17 00:00:44,320 --> 00:00:47,310 it will become the first spacecraft to fly by Neptune a planet that orbits the 18 00:00:47,310 --> 00:00:47,320 fly by Neptune a planet that orbits the 19 00:00:47,320 --> 00:00:52,189 fly by Neptune a planet that orbits the Sun near the edge of our solar system 20 00:00:52,189 --> 00:00:52,199 21 00:00:52,199 --> 00:00:56,460 launched in 1977 Voyager 1 and 2 have 22 00:00:56,460 --> 00:00:56,470 launched in 1977 Voyager 1 and 2 have 23 00:00:56,470 --> 00:01:00,660 launched in 1977 Voyager 1 and 2 have taken us to Jupiter and Saturn when 24 00:01:00,660 --> 00:01:00,670 taken us to Jupiter and Saturn when 25 00:01:00,670 --> 00:01:03,570 taken us to Jupiter and Saturn when Voyager 1 flew past the large moon Titan 26 00:01:03,570 --> 00:01:03,580 Voyager 1 flew past the large moon Titan 27 00:01:03,580 --> 00:01:06,120 Voyager 1 flew past the large moon Titan and behind Saturn's rings its flight 28 00:01:06,120 --> 00:01:06,130 and behind Saturn's rings its flight 29 00:01:06,130 --> 00:01:08,070 and behind Saturn's rings its flight path was bent northward and the 30 00:01:08,070 --> 00:01:08,080 path was bent northward and the 31 00:01:08,080 --> 00:01:09,840 path was bent northward and the spacecraft was sent out of the ecliptic 32 00:01:09,840 --> 00:01:09,850 spacecraft was sent out of the ecliptic 33 00:01:09,850 --> 00:01:12,800 spacecraft was sent out of the ecliptic plane and on toward interstellar space 34 00:01:12,800 --> 00:01:12,810 plane and on toward interstellar space 35 00:01:12,810 --> 00:01:15,480 plane and on toward interstellar space Voyager 2 is on a flight path it takes 36 00:01:15,480 --> 00:01:15,490 Voyager 2 is on a flight path it takes 37 00:01:15,490 --> 00:01:17,190 Voyager 2 is on a flight path it takes advantage of a rare geometric 38 00:01:17,190 --> 00:01:17,200 advantage of a rare geometric 39 00:01:17,200 --> 00:01:19,560 advantage of a rare geometric positioning of the outer planets this 40 00:01:19,560 --> 00:01:19,570 positioning of the outer planets this 41 00:01:19,570 --> 00:01:22,170 positioning of the outer planets this allows Voyager 2 to use the gravity of 42 00:01:22,170 --> 00:01:22,180 allows Voyager 2 to use the gravity of 43 00:01:22,180 --> 00:01:24,450 allows Voyager 2 to use the gravity of the planets it's encountered to boost it 44 00:01:24,450 --> 00:01:24,460 the planets it's encountered to boost it 45 00:01:24,460 --> 00:01:26,580 the planets it's encountered to boost it from one to another without onboard 46 00:01:26,580 --> 00:01:26,590 from one to another without onboard 47 00:01:26,590 --> 00:01:32,010 from one to another without onboard propulsion Neptune is invisible to the 48 00:01:32,010 --> 00:01:32,020 propulsion Neptune is invisible to the 49 00:01:32,020 --> 00:01:34,590 propulsion Neptune is invisible to the naked eye even our biggest telescopes 50 00:01:34,590 --> 00:01:34,600 naked eye even our biggest telescopes 51 00:01:34,600 --> 00:01:36,450 naked eye even our biggest telescopes can see only broad features of the 52 00:01:36,450 --> 00:01:36,460 can see only broad features of the 53 00:01:36,460 --> 00:01:39,690 can see only broad features of the planet early pictures sent back from 54 00:01:39,690 --> 00:01:39,700 planet early pictures sent back from 55 00:01:39,700 --> 00:01:42,450 planet early pictures sent back from Voyager already show cloud features and 56 00:01:42,450 --> 00:01:42,460 Voyager already show cloud features and 57 00:01:42,460 --> 00:01:44,669 Voyager already show cloud features and a dark band of clouds and circling the 58 00:01:44,669 --> 00:01:44,679 a dark band of clouds and circling the 59 00:01:44,679 --> 00:01:49,020 a dark band of clouds and circling the southern pole Neptune's diameter is 60 00:01:49,020 --> 00:01:49,030 southern pole Neptune's diameter is 61 00:01:49,030 --> 00:01:51,719 southern pole Neptune's diameter is about four times the size of Earth it's 62 00:01:51,719 --> 00:01:51,729 about four times the size of Earth it's 63 00:01:51,729 --> 00:01:53,969 about four times the size of Earth it's blue green color comes from atmospheric 64 00:01:53,969 --> 00:01:53,979 blue green color comes from atmospheric 65 00:01:53,979 --> 00:01:57,690 blue green color comes from atmospheric methane which absorbs red light in orbit 66 00:01:57,690 --> 00:01:57,700 methane which absorbs red light in orbit 67 00:01:57,700 --> 00:02:00,240 methane which absorbs red light in orbit around Neptune our ring arcs and one of 68 00:02:00,240 --> 00:02:00,250 around Neptune our ring arcs and one of 69 00:02:00,250 --> 00:02:02,460 around Neptune our ring arcs and one of the larger and most interesting moons in 70 00:02:02,460 --> 00:02:02,470 the larger and most interesting moons in 71 00:02:02,470 --> 00:02:07,620 the larger and most interesting moons in the solar system Triton at Voyager tues 72 00:02:07,620 --> 00:02:07,630 the solar system Triton at Voyager tues 73 00:02:07,630 --> 00:02:10,889 the solar system Triton at Voyager tues closest approach it will pass just 3,000 74 00:02:10,889 --> 00:02:10,899 closest approach it will pass just 3,000 75 00:02:10,899 --> 00:02:13,830 closest approach it will pass just 3,000 miles from Neptune's cloud tops that's 76 00:02:13,830 --> 00:02:13,840 miles from Neptune's cloud tops that's 77 00:02:13,840 --> 00:02:16,080 miles from Neptune's cloud tops that's closer than Voyager 2 has come to any 78 00:02:16,080 --> 00:02:16,090 closer than Voyager 2 has come to any 79 00:02:16,090 --> 00:02:19,470 closer than Voyager 2 has come to any other planet a few days before the 80 00:02:19,470 --> 00:02:19,480 other planet a few days before the 81 00:02:19,480 --> 00:02:22,020 other planet a few days before the spacecraft arrives at Neptune engineers 82 00:02:22,020 --> 00:02:22,030 spacecraft arrives at Neptune engineers 83 00:02:22,030 --> 00:02:24,510 spacecraft arrives at Neptune engineers will fine-tune voyagers flight path over 84 00:02:24,510 --> 00:02:24,520 will fine-tune voyagers flight path over 85 00:02:24,520 --> 00:02:27,960 will fine-tune voyagers flight path over Neptune's North Pole Voyager will be 86 00:02:27,960 --> 00:02:27,970 Neptune's North Pole Voyager will be 87 00:02:27,970 --> 00:02:30,240 Neptune's North Pole Voyager will be able to detect any Neptunian magnetic 88 00:02:30,240 --> 00:02:30,250 able to detect any Neptunian magnetic 89 00:02:30,250 --> 00:02:32,100 able to detect any Neptunian magnetic field and is likely to pass through the 90 00:02:32,100 --> 00:02:32,110 field and is likely to pass through the 91 00:02:32,110 --> 00:02:35,900 field and is likely to pass through the region where the Northern Lights form 92 00:02:35,900 --> 00:02:35,910 region where the Northern Lights form 93 00:02:35,910 --> 00:02:38,400 region where the Northern Lights form despite Neptune's greater distance from 94 00:02:38,400 --> 00:02:38,410 despite Neptune's greater distance from 95 00:02:38,410 --> 00:02:40,770 despite Neptune's greater distance from the Sun its temperature is the same as 96 00:02:40,770 --> 00:02:40,780 the Sun its temperature is the same as 97 00:02:40,780 --> 00:02:43,830 the Sun its temperature is the same as that of Uranus for it to be so warm and 98 00:02:43,830 --> 00:02:43,840 that of Uranus for it to be so warm and 99 00:02:43,840 --> 00:02:46,650 that of Uranus for it to be so warm and yet so far away Neptune must generate 100 00:02:46,650 --> 00:02:46,660 yet so far away Neptune must generate 101 00:02:46,660 --> 00:02:51,990 yet so far away Neptune must generate some internal heat of its own another of 102 00:02:51,990 --> 00:02:52,000 some internal heat of its own another of 103 00:02:52,000 --> 00:02:54,290 some internal heat of its own another of Neptune's mysteries is it's moon Triton 104 00:02:54,290 --> 00:02:54,300 Neptune's mysteries is it's moon Triton 105 00:02:54,300 --> 00:02:57,090 Neptune's mysteries is it's moon Triton with a presumed atmosphere of methane 106 00:02:57,090 --> 00:02:57,100 with a presumed atmosphere of methane 107 00:02:57,100 --> 00:02:59,790 with a presumed atmosphere of methane and possibly nitrogen Triton is expected 108 00:02:59,790 --> 00:02:59,800 and possibly nitrogen Triton is expected 109 00:02:59,800 --> 00:03:00,870 and possibly nitrogen Triton is expected to be one of the most fascinating 110 00:03:00,870 --> 00:03:00,880 to be one of the most fascinating 111 00:03:00,880 --> 00:03:03,390 to be one of the most fascinating objects and counted in Voyager tues 112 00:03:03,390 --> 00:03:03,400 objects and counted in Voyager tues 113 00:03:03,400 --> 00:03:07,290 objects and counted in Voyager tues entire journey because Neptune is so far 114 00:03:07,290 --> 00:03:07,300 entire journey because Neptune is so far 115 00:03:07,300 --> 00:03:10,380 entire journey because Neptune is so far away radio data from Voyager traveling 116 00:03:10,380 --> 00:03:10,390 away radio data from Voyager traveling 117 00:03:10,390 --> 00:03:12,300 away radio data from Voyager traveling at the speed of light will take four 118 00:03:12,300 --> 00:03:12,310 at the speed of light will take four 119 00:03:12,310 --> 00:03:16,320 at the speed of light will take four hours and six minutes to reach Earth the 120 00:03:16,320 --> 00:03:16,330 hours and six minutes to reach Earth the 121 00:03:16,330 --> 00:03:18,300 hours and six minutes to reach Earth the signals are received through the Deep 122 00:03:18,300 --> 00:03:18,310 signals are received through the Deep 123 00:03:18,310 --> 00:03:20,910 signals are received through the Deep Space Network a global spacecraft 124 00:03:20,910 --> 00:03:20,920 Space Network a global spacecraft 125 00:03:20,920 --> 00:03:22,740 Space Network a global spacecraft tracking and communication system 126 00:03:22,740 --> 00:03:22,750 tracking and communication system 127 00:03:22,750 --> 00:03:24,180 tracking and communication system operated by the Jet Propulsion 128 00:03:24,180 --> 00:03:24,190 operated by the Jet Propulsion 129 00:03:24,190 --> 00:03:28,140 operated by the Jet Propulsion Laboratory for NASA to provide 130 00:03:28,140 --> 00:03:28,150 Laboratory for NASA to provide 131 00:03:28,150 --> 00:03:30,000 Laboratory for NASA to provide continuous two-way contact with the 132 00:03:30,000 --> 00:03:30,010 continuous two-way contact with the 133 00:03:30,010 --> 00:03:33,180 continuous two-way contact with the spacecraft DSN antenna stations are 134 00:03:33,180 --> 00:03:33,190 spacecraft DSN antenna stations are 135 00:03:33,190 --> 00:03:35,340 spacecraft DSN antenna stations are strategically located in California's 136 00:03:35,340 --> 00:03:35,350 strategically located in California's 137 00:03:35,350 --> 00:03:39,960 strategically located in California's Mojave Desert near Madrid Spain and near 138 00:03:39,960 --> 00:03:39,970 Mojave Desert near Madrid Spain and near 139 00:03:39,970 --> 00:03:43,260 Mojave Desert near Madrid Spain and near Canberra Australia the father away 140 00:03:43,260 --> 00:03:43,270 Canberra Australia the father away 141 00:03:43,270 --> 00:03:45,390 Canberra Australia the father away Voyager goes the more difficult it is to 142 00:03:45,390 --> 00:03:45,400 Voyager goes the more difficult it is to 143 00:03:45,400 --> 00:03:48,540 Voyager goes the more difficult it is to pick up its weak signal to make up for 144 00:03:48,540 --> 00:03:48,550 pick up its weak signal to make up for 145 00:03:48,550 --> 00:03:51,360 pick up its weak signal to make up for this the DSN antennas have been enlarged 146 00:03:51,360 --> 00:03:51,370 this the DSN antennas have been enlarged 147 00:03:51,370 --> 00:03:53,550 this the DSN antennas have been enlarged and are now able to collect more and 148 00:03:53,550 --> 00:03:53,560 and are now able to collect more and 149 00:03:53,560 --> 00:03:55,460 and are now able to collect more and higher quality data from the spacecraft 150 00:03:55,460 --> 00:03:55,470 higher quality data from the spacecraft 151 00:03:55,470 --> 00:03:58,140 higher quality data from the spacecraft the Parkes radio Observatory in 152 00:03:58,140 --> 00:03:58,150 the Parkes radio Observatory in 153 00:03:58,150 --> 00:03:59,970 the Parkes radio Observatory in Australia and the National Radio 154 00:03:59,970 --> 00:03:59,980 Australia and the National Radio 155 00:03:59,980 --> 00:04:02,340 Australia and the National Radio Astronomy Observatory's Very Large Array 156 00:04:02,340 --> 00:04:02,350 Astronomy Observatory's Very Large Array 157 00:04:02,350 --> 00:04:05,730 Astronomy Observatory's Very Large Array in New Mexico will join the DSN antennas 158 00:04:05,730 --> 00:04:05,740 in New Mexico will join the DSN antennas 159 00:04:05,740 --> 00:04:07,920 in New Mexico will join the DSN antennas to provide for additional receiving 160 00:04:07,920 --> 00:04:07,930 to provide for additional receiving 161 00:04:07,930 --> 00:04:11,070 to provide for additional receiving power the asudar tracking station in 162 00:04:11,070 --> 00:04:11,080 power the asudar tracking station in 163 00:04:11,080 --> 00:04:13,170 power the asudar tracking station in japan will help conduct radio science 164 00:04:13,170 --> 00:04:13,180 japan will help conduct radio science 165 00:04:13,180 --> 00:04:16,320 japan will help conduct radio science experiments with the encounter of 166 00:04:16,320 --> 00:04:16,330 experiments with the encounter of 167 00:04:16,330 --> 00:04:18,659 experiments with the encounter of Neptune Voyager 2 will complete its 168 00:04:18,659 --> 00:04:18,669 Neptune Voyager 2 will complete its 169 00:04:18,669 --> 00:04:20,820 Neptune Voyager 2 will complete its grand tour of the four giant outer 170 00:04:20,820 --> 00:04:20,830 grand tour of the four giant outer 171 00:04:20,830 --> 00:04:29,220 grand tour of the four giant outer planets and head for its next adventure 172 00:04:29,220 --> 00:04:29,230 173 00:04:29,230 --> 00:04:31,960 the spacecraft is expected to continue 174 00:04:31,960 --> 00:04:31,970 the spacecraft is expected to continue 175 00:04:31,970 --> 00:04:34,930 the spacecraft is expected to continue to send back valuable data well into the 176 00:04:34,930 --> 00:04:34,940 to send back valuable data well into the 177 00:04:34,940 --> 00:04:37,990 to send back valuable data well into the 21st century as voyager 2 reaches for 178 00:04:37,990 --> 00:04:38,000 21st century as voyager 2 reaches for 179 00:04:38,000 --> 00:04:40,540 21st century as voyager 2 reaches for the edge of our solar system and enters 180 00:04:40,540 --> 00:04:40,550 the edge of our solar system and enters 181 00:04:40,550 --> 00:04:44,920 the edge of our solar system and enters interstellar space once there Voyager 182 00:04:44,920 --> 00:04:44,930 interstellar space once there Voyager 183 00:04:44,930 --> 00:04:48,070 interstellar space once there Voyager will again stretch our imagination as it 184 00:04:48,070 --> 00:04:48,080 will again stretch our imagination as it 185 00:04:48,080 --> 00:04:50,940 will again stretch our imagination as it discovers for us things we haven't even 186 00:04:50,940 --> 00:04:50,950 discovers for us things we haven't even 187 00:04:50,950 --> 00:04:53,950 discovers for us things we haven't even anticipated