9 ms·
I'm assuming that's what this metal plate [http://voyager.jpl.nasa.gov/spacecraft/images/golden_rec_sidebar.gif http://voyager.jpl.nasa.gov/spacecraft/images/go
by scg 15y ago
I'm assuming that's what this metal plate [http://voyager.jpl.nasa.gov/spacecraft/images/golden_rec_sidebar.gif http://voyager.jpl.nasa.gov/spacecraft/images/golden_rec_sid...] and the calibration circle
[http://voyager.jpl.nasa.gov/spacecraft/images/image001.gif http://voyager.jpl.nasa.gov/spacecraft/images/image001.gif] are for.
- deleted 15y ago[deleted]
- mirkules 15y agoCan you explain what the metal plate and calibration circle are for? (edit: I meant, how do they work?) To me, the plate looks like Death Star blueprints, so I'm a little relieved to hear that it's not what I originally thought :)
- joezydeco 15y agoGoing from memory, the plate defines a base unit of measurement based on the frequency of the Hydrogen atom (lower right). Hopefully every space-travelling civilization has got that one down on paper. Then it goes into how to play the record back (the speed is drawn around the edge of the record), then how to demodulate the waves, then how to convert the data into scanlines and plot them in a square and get to the calibration circle (middle of the disc). It's kind of quaint that we sent this record of civilization out as gold-plated LP record. Very 70's.
- mbreese 15y ago> It's kind of quaint that we sent this record of civilization out as gold-plated LP record. Very 70's. Now, we'd probably just send an iPad with instructions for recharging it (or a solar charger). Or even better, just send an e-ink Kindle... just make sure to turn it off first.
- joezydeco 15y agoFinally had time to dig out the decoding instructions: http://voyager.jpl.nasa.gov/spacecraft/images/VgrCover.jpg http://voyager.jpl.nasa.gov/spacecraft/images/VgrCover.jpg