Saudi Experience in Promoting Moderation and Countering Intellectual Deviations
Dr. Abubakar Muhammad Thani Birnin Kudu
Faculty member at the Federal University in Dutse Nigeria
Voyager 1 will be one light-year from Earth around the year 19,874 AD.
That date is not science fiction. It is a straightforward consequence of distance, speed, and time. Humanity’s farthest spacecraft has already spent nearly half a century in flight. Even at its impressive velocity by earthly standards, it will still need almost 18,000 more years to cover the distance light travels in a single year.
From Grand Tour to interstellar space
Voyager 1 launched on September 5, 1977. Its original mission was a flyby of Jupiter and Saturn. Gravity assists from the giant planets flung the probe high above the ecliptic plane and onto a trajectory out of the solar system.
In 1998 it overtook Pioneer 10 and became the most distant human-made object. On August 25, 2012, it crossed the heliopause and entered interstellar space—the first spacecraft ever to do so.
As of late August 2026, Voyager 1 is about 25.65 billion kilometers from Earth (roughly 171.5 astronomical units). A radio signal takes nearly 23 hours and 46 minutes to travel one way.
A speed that looks fast—and is tiny
Relative to the Sun, Voyager 1 travels at about 16.9 km/s, or roughly 61,000 km/h. That works out to about 3.5–3.6 AU per year.
One light-year is 9.46 trillion kilometers. At the probe’s current speed it takes roughly 17,700 years to cover that distance. Counting from launch yields a date around 19,874 AD. Small differences among estimates come from the fact that the spacecraft is still slowly losing speed as it climbs out of the Sun’s gravity well, and Earth’s own orbit makes the Earth-to-spacecraft range oscillate slightly each year.
For perspective: Proxima Centauri, the nearest star, lies 4.24 light-years away. Even if Voyager 1 were headed straight toward it, the journey would take more than 70,000 years.
What happens tens of thousands of years from now
Voyager 1 is not aimed at any particular star. In about 40,000 years it will pass within 1.6–1.7 light-years of the star Gliese 445 (AC +79 3888) in the constellation Camelopardalis. That star itself will be approaching the Sun at the time.
By then the radioisotope thermoelectric generators will have long since exhausted their plutonium-238. Contact with Earth will already have ended in the 2030s. The spacecraft will become a silent messenger carrying the Golden Record—sounds of Earth, music, greetings in dozens of languages, and a map of the solar system’s position relative to nearby pulsars.
Why the milestone matters
One light-year is no longer merely “far.” It is the first truly interstellar distance that a human-built object will reach. Voyager 1 will be the first piece of Earth ever to sit that far from home.
It will still be deep inside the Milky Way. The galaxy is vast, and our probes remain slow by cosmic standards. Voyager 1 is both a triumph of 1970s engineering and a reminder of how slowly we currently travel between the stars.
Eighteen thousand years from now, whatever civilization exists on Earth will be unrecognizable. A small spacecraft launched in 1977 will still be coasting onward—cold, dark, and unimaginably distant—proof that we once dared to leave the solar system.
KAUST Scholarship 2027 | Saudi Arabia | Fully Funded Master’s & PhD
Applications are open for the King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) Scholarship 2027 in Saudi Arabia. The programme offers fully funded graduate study opportunities for eligible international students pursuing Master’s and PhD degrees.
Key Details:
University: King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST)
Location: Saudi Arabia
Study Level: Master’s and PhD
Funding: Fully Funded
Application Deadline: 27 September 2026
Who Can Apply?
Applicants interested in pursuing a Master’s or PhD degree at KAUST
International students who meet the university’s admission requirements
Candidates with the required academic qualifications for their selected programme
Applicants who satisfy the specific eligibility requirements of their chosen field of study
Scholarship Benefits:
The KAUST Fellowship generally provides comprehensive financial support to admitted graduate students, including tuition and other benefits. Applicants should consult the official KAUST admissions information for the current fellowship package and conditions.
How to Apply:
Interested applicants should review the admission requirements, available graduate programmes, and application timeline before submitting their application.
Official KAUST Admission Timeline:
https://t.co/Pw5C9jPwC0
Additional Information:
https://t.co/mxA6Mssf4H
Deadline: 27 September 2026
This opportunity is shared by the Professor Isa Pantami Foundation (PIP Foundation) as part of its commitment to promoting postgraduate education, research, innovation, and access to international academic opportunities across Africa.
#PIPFoundation #KAUST #KAUSTScholarship #KAUST2027 #FullyFundedScholarship #MastersScholarship #PhDScholarship #StudyInSaudiArabia #GraduateScholarship #InternationalStudents #PostgraduateStudy #ResearchOpportunities #ScholarshipOpportunities #Education #GlobalOpportunities #Africa
UNDP Digital, AI and Innovation Internship 2026 | 3 Months | Remote | Monthly Stipend
The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) is accepting applications for its Digital, AI and Innovation Internship 2026. This is a home-based internship opportunity for eligible students and recent graduates interested in digital technology, artificial intelligence, data, and innovation.
Key Details:
Organisation: United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)
Internship: Digital, AI and Innovation Internship 2026
Duration: 3 Months
Location: Home-Based / Remote
Financial Support: Monthly Stipend
Application Fee: None
Benefits:
- Monthly stipend
- Remote internship experience
- Practical exposure to digital, AI, data, and innovation work
- Opportunity to gain experience with an international development organisation
Who Can Apply?
- Graduate students
- Final-year bachelor’s students
- Recent university graduates who can start the internship within one year of graduation
- Applicants with fluency in English
Application Process:
- Applicants are required to apply through the official UNDP vacancy portal and complete the required Airtable form.
- Both application steps are required.
How to Apply:
Official UNDP Vacancy:
https://t.co/N8uZnJnmkI
Additional Information:
https://t.co/Av1NeEdrsB
Applicants are encouraged to carefully review the official vacancy for complete eligibility requirements, application instructions, and other relevant details before applying.
This opportunity update is shared by the Professor Isa Pantami Foundation (PIP Foundation) as part of its commitment to promoting education, digital skills, career development, and access to global opportunities across Africa.
Credit: UNDP / Official UNDP Careers Website
#PIPFoundation #UNDP #UNDPInternship #Internship2026 #DigitalInternship #AIInternship #RemoteInternship #OnlineInternship #DataScience #ArtificialIntelligence #Innovation #CareerOpportunities #Students #RecentGraduates #GlobalOpportunities #Africa
Sheikh Abdur Rahman Al Sudais issued a warning from Masjid Al Haram on 18 Aug 2026 against celebrating Mawlid, stating it opposes the Sunnah of the Messenger of Allah and his companions.
Go and apply for Digital Training Academy, Portal now available
Federal Government Digital Training Academy (DTA) is finally open
The Federal Government of Nigeria is set to open the Digital Training Academy (DTA) on 17 August 2026, providing Nigerians with the opportunity to acquire free digital skills training.
Participants will be able to learn in high-demand technology fields, including:
* Artificial Intelligence (AI)
* Cybersecurity
* Software Development
* Cloud Technology
* FinTech
* IT Automation
* Other digital skills
Requirements
* NIN
* Active phone number
* Complete your profile
* Take the pre-assessment before starting the training
The training is completely free, and participants who successfully complete the programme will receive a certificate.
Registration now available
https://t.co/ttXYCrhShB
لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا أَنْتَ سُبْحَانَكَ إِنِّي كُنْتُ مِنَ الظَّالِمِينَ
“La ilaha illa anta subhanaka inni kuntu minal zalumin”
"There is no deity except You; exalted are You. Indeed, I have been of the wrongdoers."✨