Hey Space Placers!
There was an announcement yesterday that stated that Voyager 1 had left the solar system http://esciencenews.com/articles/2013/03/20/agu.voyager.1.has.left.solar.system.sudden.changes.cosmic.rays.indicate and much to my surprise it wasn't coming from NASA but rather the American Geophysical Union (AGU). What's more, NASA and JPL were not aware according to some news stories I have read that the announcement was forthcoming. Hmmmmm.
Later in the day a modification was released by the AGU http://www.agu.org/news/press/pr_archives/2013/2013-11.shtml that brought the findings of a paper more into line with NASA by describing Voyager 1 as being in a "new region of space".
NASA released an update of its own http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/voyager/voyager20130320.html which clearly stated that the spacecraft that is destined for the stars is still under the influence of the Sun and therefore still in the solar system. NASA monitors Voyager 1 daily and is looking for the expected changes that will indicate Voyager 1 has reached interstellar space.
SO we have another interesting episode of science news reporting that happens every once in awhile in which the story gets published but is incorrect. This has happened before and it will happen again.
Sky Guy in VA
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