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The odds of another space-faring civilization with roughly the same detection technology of us finding the Voyager probes is infinitesimally small. However, any
by aquova 7y ago
The odds of another space-faring civilization with roughly the same detection technology of us finding the Voyager probes is infinitesimally small. However, any civilization that has managed to reach our Solar System (or just beyond it) most likely has technology we haven't even dreamed of, and could possibly detect it with Star Trek-esque "sensors".
The bigger issue with the Voyager probe is that even if some other aliens did manage to find it, the odds that they would be able to replicate a phonograph in order to play the record is possibly a bigger hurtle. In the end, it's a neat symbolic touch for humans on the verge of going to space, but the most likely alien race to recover Voyager is us.
- i_am_proteus 7y agoA phonograph isn't necessary to play a record. Various methods of imaging of the grooves would reveal the data. For instance, archivists can listen to records with a laser-based device to avoid damaging fragile recordings.
- friedegg 7y agoNot that the quality is great, but you can play a record with a needle and a paper cone. Obviously, figuring out that you need to spin it and play it is not necessarily an easy leap, but it doesn't require much in terms of actual technology.