Distance travelled:
0 km
Time elapsed:
0
Earth
Distance travelled:
0 km
Time elapsed:
0
From the high latitude of Tromsø, a high-power radio transmission departs the Earth towards the sky. Our planet, the third one in the Solar System is a rocky object surrounded by a rather thick atmosphere. While there is nothing particular about its size or orbit, there is one thing that makes it unique: it is the only place in the Universe known to host life… perhaps even intelligent life… for now.
From the high latitude of Tromsø, a high-power radio transmission departs the Earth towards the sky. Our planet, the third one in the Solar System is a rocky object surrounded by a rather thick atmosphere. While there is nothing particular about its size or orbit, there is one thing that makes it unique: it is the only place in the Universe known to host life… perhaps even intelligent life… for now.
Distance travelled:
3.8·105 km (380000 km)
Time elapsed:
1.3 sec
Moon
Distance travelled:
3.8·105 km (380000 km)
Time elapsed:
1.3 sec
The message reaches the orbit of the Moon, Earth's natural satellite. The Moon was formed billions of years ago when a planetary embryo collided with a young Earth, ripping out part of its mantle. So, our planet and its satellite are true siblings. Seen from the Earth, the Moon always shows the same face and its phases arise from the differences in solar illumination as it orbits our planet every 27 days.
The message reaches the orbit of the Moon, Earth's natural satellite. The Moon was formed billions of years ago when a planetary embryo collided with a young Earth, ripping out part of its mantle. So, our planet and its satellite are true siblings. Seen from the Earth, the Moon always shows the same face and its phases arise from the differences in solar illumination as it orbits our planet every 27 days.
Distance travelled:
1.7·108 km (170 million km)
Time elapsed:
9.6 min
Mars
Distance travelled:
1.7·108 km (170 million km)
Time elapsed:
9.6 min
The message reaches the orbit of the red planet. Mars is the most Earth-like of all the Solar System planets. Since the XIXth century it has been considered a suitable location for life (even intelligent life!) to exist. Although its mass is 10 times less than the Earth, in the past it could have hosted an atmosphere and also had liquid water running on its surface. Both are long gone and all that remains is a rusty dry surface. But perhaps life did exist on Mars billions of years ago, hence the launch of several space missions to search for its footprints.
The message reaches the orbit of the red planet. Mars is the most Earth-like of all the Solar System planets. Since the XIXth century it has been considered a suitable location for life (even intelligent life!) to exist. Although its mass is 10 times less than the Earth, in the past it could have hosted an atmosphere and also had liquid water running on its surface. Both are long gone and all that remains is a rusty dry surface. But perhaps life did exist on Mars billions of years ago, hence the launch of several space missions to search for its footprints.
Distance travelled:
2.6·108 km (260 million km)
Time elapsed:
14.5 min
Belt
Distance travelled:
2.6·108 km (260 million km)
Time elapsed:
14.5 min
The message reaches the inner limit of the asteroid belt. When the Solar System was forming, all the material between Mars and Jupiter should have coalesced to create a planet. However, the strong gravitational pull of Jupiter prevented this and millions of different sized rocks were left to form a belt. The largest rock in the asteroid belt is Ceres, a dwarf planet with a diameter of almost 1,000 km.
The message reaches the inner limit of the asteroid belt. When the Solar System was forming, all the material between Mars and Jupiter should have coalesced to create a planet. However, the strong gravitational pull of Jupiter prevented this and millions of different sized rocks were left to form a belt. The largest rock in the asteroid belt is Ceres, a dwarf planet with a diameter of almost 1,000 km.
Distance travelled:
2.75·108 km (275 million km)
Time elapsed:
15.3 min
Inner belt
Distance travelled:
2.75·108 km (275 million km)
Time elapsed:
15.3 min
The message has crossed the full width of the asteroid belt. The asteroids are grouped in families dependent on their orbital properties. Due to its strong gravity, spaces that are integer ratios of Jupiter's orbital period are empty of asteroids. These are the so-called Kirkwood gaps.
The message has crossed the full width of the asteroid belt. The asteroids are grouped in families dependent on their orbital properties. Due to its strong gravity, spaces that are integer ratios of Jupiter's orbital period are empty of asteroids. These are the so-called Kirkwood gaps.
Distance travelled:
7.65·108 km (765 million km)
Time elapsed:
42.5 min
Jupiter
Distance travelled:
7.65·108 km (765 million km)
Time elapsed:
42.5 min
The message is now at the orbital distance of Jupiter. With a mass 313 times greater than the earth and a diameter 11 times the size, Jupiter is the Solar System’s giant. It has a rocky core encased in gas, meaning it has no discerning surface or atmosphere such as our own planet. Its gaseous envelope is filled with clouds and strong winds of over 600 km/h. The Great Red Spot, a giant hurricane-like storm three times the size of our planet, has existed in the same location for centuries.
The message is now at the orbital distance of Jupiter. With a mass 313 times greater than the earth and a diameter 11 times the size, Jupiter is the Solar System’s giant. It has a rocky core encased in gas, meaning it has no discerning surface or atmosphere such as our own planet. Its gaseous envelope is filled with clouds and strong winds of over 600 km/h. The Great Red Spot, a giant hurricane-like storm three times the size of our planet, has existed in the same location for centuries.
Distance travelled:
1.4·109 km (1.4 billion km)
Time elapsed:
1h 19m
Saturn
Distance travelled:
1.4·109 km (1.4 billion km)
Time elapsed:
1h 19m
The message reaches the orbit of the majestic 'lord of the rings'. Saturn is a gaseous planet with a mass almost 100 times that of the Earth and is encircled by a magnificent system of rings. The rings are formed by billions of particles of ice and rock, ranging in size from a grain of sugar to the size of a house. The rings are believed to be debris left over from comets, asteroids and shattered moons. Although they extend thousands of kilometres from the planet, the main rings are typically only about 10 meters thick.
The message reaches the orbit of the majestic 'lord of the rings'. Saturn is a gaseous planet with a mass almost 100 times that of the Earth and is encircled by a magnificent system of rings. The rings are formed by billions of particles of ice and rock, ranging in size from a grain of sugar to the size of a house. The rings are believed to be debris left over from comets, asteroids and shattered moons. Although they extend thousands of kilometres from the planet, the main rings are typically only about 10 meters thick.
Distance travelled:
2.9·109 km (2.9 billion km)
Time elapsed:
2h 40m
Uranus
Distance travelled:
2.9·109 km (2.9 billion km)
Time elapsed:
2h 40m
The 'head' of the message is now at Uranus distance and its 'tail' has just left the orbit of Mars) The message is at the orbital distance of Uranus. Uranus has a mass 14 times greater than the Earth and a radius 4 times larger. It is known as an 'ice giant' since 80 percent or more of its mass is made up of a fluid mixture of water, methane, and ammonia ices. The rotation axis of Uranus is tilted so heavily that it essentially orbits the sun on its side. This unusual orientation may be due to a collision with a planet-sized body soon after it was formed.
The 'head' of the message is now at Uranus distance and its 'tail' has just left the orbit of Mars) The message is at the orbital distance of Uranus. Uranus has a mass 14 times greater than the Earth and a radius 4 times larger. It is known as an 'ice giant' since 80 percent or more of its mass is made up of a fluid mixture of water, methane, and ammonia ices. The rotation axis of Uranus is tilted so heavily that it essentially orbits the sun on its side. This unusual orientation may be due to a collision with a planet-sized body soon after it was formed.
Distance travelled:
4.5·109 km (4.5 billion km)
Time elapsed:
4h 10m
Neptune
Distance travelled:
4.5·109 km (4.5 billion km)
Time elapsed:
4h 10m
The message reaches Neptune. This was the first planet to have its existence predicted by mathematical calculations before it was even seen through a telescope, in 1846. It is another 'ice giant' with a mass 17 times greater than that of the Earth and a radius slightly less than 4 times the size. Neptune's winds can reach up to 2,400 km/h, the fastest detected in the Solar System to date.
The message reaches Neptune. This was the first planet to have its existence predicted by mathematical calculations before it was even seen through a telescope, in 1846. It is another 'ice giant' with a mass 17 times greater than that of the Earth and a radius slightly less than 4 times the size. Neptune's winds can reach up to 2,400 km/h, the fastest detected in the Solar System to date.
Distance travelled:
5.5·109 km (5.5 billion km)
Time elapsed:
5h 3m
Pluto
Distance travelled:
5.5·109 km (5.5 billion km)
Time elapsed:
5h 3m
The message reaches Pluto. Pluto is a dwarf planet (classified as such in 2006) with a diameter of 2,370 km, less than one-fifth the diameter of the Earth, and only two-thirds of the Earth's moon. It is also one of the largest known members of the Kuiper Belt; a shadowy zone beyond the orbit of Neptune thought to be populated by hundreds of thousands of rocky and icy bodies. Pluto's surface is one of the coldest places in the Solar System, at roughly -225ºC.
The message reaches Pluto. Pluto is a dwarf planet (classified as such in 2006) with a diameter of 2,370 km, less than one-fifth the diameter of the Earth, and only two-thirds of the Earth's moon. It is also one of the largest known members of the Kuiper Belt; a shadowy zone beyond the orbit of Neptune thought to be populated by hundreds of thousands of rocky and icy bodies. Pluto's surface is one of the coldest places in the Solar System, at roughly -225ºC.
Distance travelled:
2.1·1010 km (21 billion km)
Time elapsed:
19h 24m
Voyager
Distance travelled:
2.1·1010 km (21 billion km)
Time elapsed:
19h 24m
The message just reached the distance travelled by the man-made spacecraft farthest from Earth: Voyager 1. Launched in 1977 Voyager 1 set out to study the outer Solar System, including flybys of Jupiter, Saturn and Saturn's large moon, Titan. Following its science mission Voyager 1 continued its journey and in 2012 it became the first spacecraft to leave the region under the Sun’s influence, entering interstellar space.
The message just reached the distance travelled by the man-made spacecraft farthest from Earth: Voyager 1. Launched in 1977 Voyager 1 set out to study the outer Solar System, including flybys of Jupiter, Saturn and Saturn's large moon, Titan. Following its science mission Voyager 1 continued its journey and in 2012 it became the first spacecraft to leave the region under the Sun’s influence, entering interstellar space.
Distance travelled:
1.8·1011 km (180 billion km)
Time elapsed:
7 d
Planet 9
Distance travelled:
1.8·1011 km (180 billion km)
Time elapsed:
7 d
The message reaches a possible Planet 9. Astronomers have been speculating for decades on the possible existence of a ninth planet in the Solar System, also known as Planet 9. Calculations released in 2016 suggested the existence of a planet over 10 times the mass of the Earth in a very eccentric orbital period of around 15,000 years. Planet 9 has not been seen yet. It could now be lurking in the depths of the Kuiper Belt in its aphelion, at a distance 1,200 times greater than that of the Sun to the Earth.
The message reaches a possible Planet 9. Astronomers have been speculating for decades on the possible existence of a ninth planet in the Solar System, also known as Planet 9. Calculations released in 2016 suggested the existence of a planet over 10 times the mass of the Earth in a very eccentric orbital period of around 15,000 years. Planet 9 has not been seen yet. It could now be lurking in the depths of the Kuiper Belt in its aphelion, at a distance 1,200 times greater than that of the Sun to the Earth.
Distance travelled:
4.7·1011 km (470 billion km)
Time elapsed:
18 d
Oort
Distance travelled:
4.7·1011 km (470 billion km)
Time elapsed:
18 d
The message is reaching the inner limit of the Oort cloud. The Oort cloud is an extended shell of icy objects that exist in the outermost reaches of the Solar System. This particle cloud is theorized to be the remains of the disc of material that formed the Sun and its planets. It is spherically shaped and consists of an outer cloud and a torus (doughnut-shaped) inner cloud. The minor planet Sedna, discovered in 2003, is thought to be a member of the inner Oort Cloud.
The message is reaching the inner limit of the Oort cloud. The Oort cloud is an extended shell of icy objects that exist in the outermost reaches of the Solar System. This particle cloud is theorized to be the remains of the disc of material that formed the Sun and its planets. It is spherically shaped and consists of an outer cloud and a torus (doughnut-shaped) inner cloud. The minor planet Sedna, discovered in 2003, is thought to be a member of the inner Oort Cloud.
Distance travelled:
1.4·1013 km (14 trillion km)
Time elapsed:
1.5 yr
Oort Out
Distance travelled:
1.4·1013 km (14 trillion km)
Time elapsed:
1.5 yr
The message is exiting the Oort cloud. The Oort cloud is a reserve of cometary nuclei that contains ice dating back to the origin of the Solar System. The number of objects in the cloud could be as high as 2 trillion. Long-period comets (those with orbital periods longer than 200 years) have their origins in the Oort cloud. At its current speed, Voyager 1 will reach the Oort cloud in about 300 years, and will take approximately 30,000 years to travel through it.
The message is exiting the Oort cloud. The Oort cloud is a reserve of cometary nuclei that contains ice dating back to the origin of the Solar System. The number of objects in the cloud could be as high as 2 trillion. Long-period comets (those with orbital periods longer than 200 years) have their origins in the Oort cloud. At its current speed, Voyager 1 will reach the Oort cloud in about 300 years, and will take approximately 30,000 years to travel through it.
Distance travelled:
4.0·1013 km (40 trillion km)
Time elapsed:
4 yr 89d
Proxima Centauri
Distance travelled:
4.0·1013 km (40 trillion km)
Time elapsed:
4 yr 89d
The message has reached the distance of the closest star to the Sun: Proxima Centauri. Proxima Cen is a red dwarf with a mass 8 times less than the Sun and belongs to a system of Sun-like stars, alpha Cen A and alpha Cen B. In 2016 it was announced that Proxima Centauri hosts a planet of similar mass to the Earth which is orbiting in its habitable zone, with an orbital period of 11.2 days. Such a planet could have liquid water on its surface and therefore be hospitable to life.
The message has reached the distance of the closest star to the Sun: Proxima Centauri. Proxima Cen is a red dwarf with a mass 8 times less than the Sun and belongs to a system of Sun-like stars, alpha Cen A and alpha Cen B. In 2016 it was announced that Proxima Centauri hosts a planet of similar mass to the Earth which is orbiting in its habitable zone, with an orbital period of 11.2 days. Such a planet could have liquid water on its surface and therefore be hospitable to life.
Distance travelled:
5.6·1013 km (56 trillion km)
Time elapsed:
5 yr 345 d
Barnard's star
Distance travelled:
5.6·1013 km (56 trillion km)
Time elapsed:
5 yr 345 d
The message is now at the distance of Barnard's star, a red dwarf with a mass 7 times less than our Sun. It is the fourth-nearest known individual star to the Sun (after the three stars in the Alpha Centauri system) and the closest star in the Northern Celestial Hemisphere. Barnard's star has the largest apparent motion of all stars, which was first recorded by American astronomer E. E. Barnard.
The message is now at the distance of Barnard's star, a red dwarf with a mass 7 times less than our Sun. It is the fourth-nearest known individual star to the Sun (after the three stars in the Alpha Centauri system) and the closest star in the Northern Celestial Hemisphere. Barnard's star has the largest apparent motion of all stars, which was first recorded by American astronomer E. E. Barnard.
Distance travelled:
8.1·1013 km (81 trillion km)
Time elapsed:
8 yr 218 d
Sirius
Distance travelled:
8.1·1013 km (81 trillion km)
Time elapsed:
8 yr 218 d
The message has been approaching Sirius and has now reached its closest distance at less than 4 light years. Sirius, also known as the 'alpha' star is in the constellation of Canis Majoris, is the brightest star visible from the Earth and from the message it is now five times more luminescent. Sirius is actually a binary star system, consisting of a white star with twice the mass of the Sun and a faint white dwarf companion.
The message has been approaching Sirius and has now reached its closest distance at less than 4 light years. Sirius, also known as the 'alpha' star is in the constellation of Canis Majoris, is the brightest star visible from the Earth and from the message it is now five times more luminescent. Sirius is actually a binary star system, consisting of a white star with twice the mass of the Sun and a faint white dwarf companion.
Distance travelled:
1.1·1014 km (110 trillion km)
Time elapsed:
11 yr 167 d
Procyon
Distance travelled:
1.1·1014 km (110 trillion km)
Time elapsed:
11 yr 167 d
The message has been travelling in the direction of the Procyon star in alpha Canis Minoris, and is now 0.65 light years away. It is the eighth-brightest star in the night sky but, from this distance, Procyon is an extremely bright star, some 60 times brighter than Sirius as seen from the Earth. It is a binary star system, consisting of a white star approximately 50% more massive than the Sun with a faint white dwarf companion.
The message has been travelling in the direction of the Procyon star in alpha Canis Minoris, and is now 0.65 light years away. It is the eighth-brightest star in the night sky but, from this distance, Procyon is an extremely bright star, some 60 times brighter than Sirius as seen from the Earth. It is a binary star system, consisting of a white star approximately 50% more massive than the Sun with a faint white dwarf companion.
Distance travelled:
1.2·1014 km (120 trillion km)
Time elapsed:
12 yr 145 d
Luyten
Distance travelled:
1.2·1014 km (120 trillion km)
Time elapsed:
12 yr 145 d
The message has reached its destination! Luyten's star is a red dwarf with a mass one-fourth of the Sun, hosting at least two orbiting planets. One of them, Luyten's star b, has a mass 3 times greater than the Earth and orbits within the habitable zone. Could it have liquid water? Could it have developed life? Could such life be intelligent and be capable of communication? Would they have sufficient technology to receive our message and decode it? We may receive the answer in 25 years.
The message has reached its destination! Luyten's star is a red dwarf with a mass one-fourth of the Sun, hosting at least two orbiting planets. One of them, Luyten's star b, has a mass 3 times greater than the Earth and orbits within the habitable zone. Could it have liquid water? Could it have developed life? Could such life be intelligent and be capable of communication? Would they have sufficient technology to receive our message and decode it? We may receive the answer in 25 years.
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