Annals of Exploration–Is There Anyone Out There?: Voyager 1, launched almost 30 years ago, has just about run out of solar system. Indeed, the little probe that could, which is now 8.37 billion miles from the sun, might actually be beyond the solar system–in the vast and unknown area known as interstellar space. Scientists aren’t sure, in part because the boundaries of the solar system expand and contract. But they are having a hell of a good time arguing about it. Just in case Voyager runs into any extraterrestrial life out there, it carries a high density golden disk which attempts to explain our planet. What’s on it? Among other things, greetings in 55 languages, the sound of a kiss, a mother’s lullaby, and written statements from President Jimmy Carter and then-UN Secretary General Kurt Waldheim. Carter? Waldheim? Uh-oh. Hope the Borg don’t run into this thing. We are sure to get assimilated. Resistance is futile…….



Rockin’ Klingons: Maybe we’ll be spared…..Voyager also carries a version of Chuck Berry’s “Johnny B. Goode”

(Image: NASA)