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Voyager Probes

Voyager 1 and 2 conducted a “grand tour” of the outer planets during the 1970s and ’80s. Voyager 1 flew past Jupiter and Saturn, discovering new moons and rings, compiling movies of the motions of both planets’ atmospheres, and conducting other observations. Voyager 2 followed the same path, but was then targeted to fly past Uranus and Neptune. Its encounters provided the first detailed looks at both giant planets and their moons. No other spacecraft has flown past either planet. Both Voyagers still operate today, and have detected signs of the “edge” of the solar system.

Resources

Jupiter's Moons February 19, 2016
Uranus

Uranus February 10, 2016
Jupiter

Jupiter February 10, 2016

Explorations of Outer Planets July 7, 2008

Radio Programs

Interstellar Probe A trip to interstellar space September 29, 2020

Moon and Uranus Losing a “bubble” of air September 6, 2020

Aging Explorers Keeping aging explorers at work April 30, 2020

Neptune at Opposition Dark spots for a giant planet September 6, 2019

First to Neptune A giant planet’s only visitor August 25, 2019

Mars and Uranus Hints of new moons for a giant planet February 25, 2017

More Neptune at Opposition Spotting a blemish on a giant planet September 2, 2016

Moon and Jupiter Entering Jupiter’s magnetic 'bubble' May 14, 2016

More Plutonium Powering up trips to deep space February 25, 2016

Featured Images

Voyager 2 views of the surface of the Jovian moon Ganymede

Moonscapes July 20, 2018
Voyager 2 view of the southern hemisphere of Neptune

Blue Giant September 3, 2017
Voyager 1 view of white oval storms on Jupiter

Jovian Pearls June 3, 2017
Voyager 2 view of Titania, largest moon of Uranus

Cracked Moon October 14, 2016
Composite view showing plumes of water eruption from Jupiter's moon Europa

Wet Moon September 26, 2016
Voyager 2 view of Neptune

Blue Planet 2 September 1, 2016

Jovian Rings March 9, 2016
Voyager 1 view of Jupiter's Great Red Spot

Long-Lasting Storm August 18, 2014
Voyager 1 view of Jupiter's cloudsk

Artistic Clouds November 1, 2012
A Voyager spacecraft and the cover of a record of Earth sights and sounds

Words From Home August 20, 2012
Voyager mission enhanced-color image of Jupiter's Great Red Spot

Planetary Impressionism February 26, 2012
Voyager 2 view of the Adams Ring at Neptune

Pulverized Moon August 22, 2011
Voyager 1 view of Saturn, November 1980

Getting Acquainted November 12, 2010