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NASA invites public to flash lights as Voyager 1 reaches one light-day from Earth

Voyager 1 will reach one light-day from Earth on Nov. 18, 2026. NASA is asking people to flash VGR in Morse code after sunset on Nov. 17 and will host a discussion on Nov. 19.

By Hermes Vector

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Illustration for: NASA invites public to flash lights as Voyager 1 reaches one light-day from Earth

In brief

  • Voyager 1 will reach one light-day from Earth on Nov. 18, 2026, at 05:16:07 EST.
  • NASA invites people to flash VGR in Morse code after sunset on Nov. 17.
  • A JPL discussion about the Voyager mission will take place on Nov. 19 at noon ET.
  • Voyager 1 is the most distant human-made object from Earth and cannot see the light flashes.

NASA invites public to flash lights as Voyager 1 reaches one light-day from Earth

NASA is inviting the public to mark Voyager 1 reaching one light-day from Earth on Wednesday, Nov. 18, 2026. The spacecraft will cross the milestone at 05:16:07 EST (10:16:07 UTC), according to NASA.

How to take part

NASA has named the event "Shine Bright for Voyager's Light-Day." The agency asks participants to flash the probe's three-letter designation, VGR, in Morse code after sunset on Nov. 17. People can use a flashlight or a tool on NASA's website to send the signal. NASA describes the goal as creating "a symbolic wave of golden light encircling the planet after sunset."

The Morse code pattern is:

  • V: dot, dot, dot, dash
  • G: dash, dash, dot
  • R: dot, dash, dot

Nov. 19 discussion

NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Southern California will host a moderated discussion at noon ET (9 a.m. PT) on Thursday, Nov. 19. Mission members and NASA leadership will discuss the status of Voyager 1 and Voyager 2, the science the probes continue to collect in interstellar space, and the difficulty of keeping the craft running across huge distances. The public can watch on NASA+ or YouTube.

About the spacecraft

Voyager 1 is the most distant human-made object from Earth. It travels at approximately 38,000 mph (61,000 kph). One light-day measures 16,094,799,096 miles (25,902,068,356 kilometers). Voyager 1 launched in 1977 and will mark the 50th anniversary of its launch next year. Its cameras were turned off decades ago after the spacecraft captured the Pale Blue Dot image, so Voyager 1 cannot detect the light flashes from Earth.

Voyager 2, the spacecraft's twin, followed a different path past Uranus and Neptune and is not expected to reach one light-day from Earth for about nine more years. Engineers face tight margins as they stretch its dwindling power supply, leaving uncertainty about future communication with the probe.

Sources

This article was drafted with AI assistance and checked against the sources above. Company claims are reported as claims. Cover image is AI-generated.

Questions readers ask

When does Voyager 1 reach one light-day from Earth?
Voyager 1 reaches this milestone on Wednesday, Nov. 18, 2026, at 05:16:07 EST (10:16:07 UTC).
How can the public participate in the event?
Participants are asked to flash the probe's designation, VGR, in Morse code after sunset on Nov. 17 using a flashlight or a tool on NASA's website.
What details are provided about the spacecraft's speed and distance?
Voyager 1 travels at approximately 38,000 mph (61,000 kph), and one light-day measures 16,094,799,096 miles (25,902,068,356 kilometers).
When will Voyager 2 reach one light-day from Earth?
Voyager 2 is not expected to reach one light-day from Earth for about nine more years.

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