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Astronomy Picture of the Day - A Message from Earth
NASA ^ | 29 Mar, 2026 | Image Credit: Frank Drake et al., Arecibo Observatory; License: Arne Nordmann (Wikimedia)

Posted on 03/29/2026 11:57:23 AM PDT by MtnClimber

Explanation: What are these Earthlings trying to tell us? The featured message was broadcast from Earth towards the globular star cluster M13 in 1974. During the dedication of an upgrade to the Arecibo Observatory - then the largest single radio telescope in the world - a string of 1's and 0's representing the diagram was sent. This attempt at extraterrestrial communication was mostly ceremonial - humanity regularly broadcasts radio and television signals out into space accidentally. Even were this message received, M13 is so far away we would have to wait almost 50,000 years to hear an answer. The featured message gives a few simple facts about humanity and its knowledge: from left to right are numbers from one to ten, atoms including hydrogen and carbon, some interesting molecules, DNA, a human with description, basics of our Solar System, and basics of the sending telescope. Several searches for extraterrestrial intelligence are currently underway.


TOPICS: Astronomy; Astronomy Picture of the Day; Science
KEYWORDS: apod; nasa

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1 posted on 03/29/2026 11:57:23 AM PDT by MtnClimber
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To: MtnClimber

2 posted on 03/29/2026 11:57:43 AM PDT by MtnClimber (For photos of scenery, wildlife and climbing, click on my screen name for my FR home page.)
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To: 21stCenturion; 21twelve; 4everontheRight; A Navy Vet; A_perfect_lady; abb; AFB-XYZ; AFPhys; ...
Pinging the APOD list

πŸͺ 🌟 🌌 πŸ”

3 posted on 03/29/2026 11:58:42 AM PDT by MtnClimber (For photos of scenery, wildlife and climbing, click on my screen name for my FR home page.)
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To: MtnClimber

That was high tech stuff back in the day.


4 posted on 03/29/2026 12:01:14 PM PDT by BenLurkin (The above is not a statement of fact. It is opinion or satire. Or both.)
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To: MtnClimber

“Send more Chuck Berry!”


5 posted on 03/29/2026 12:29:39 PM PDT by Repeal The 17th ( I am obsessed with not being obsessed with anything.)
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To: MtnClimber

I can never win this game.


6 posted on 03/29/2026 12:41:27 PM PDT by blueunicorn6 ("A crack shot and a good dancer” )
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To: MtnClimber

Thought that dish was decommissioned years ago.


7 posted on 03/29/2026 1:47:03 PM PDT by sasquatch (Do NOT forget Ashli Babbit! c/o piytar)
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To: MtnClimber

They got that wrong. They have nine plants in todays world there are only 8 Pluto got kicked out. Are they going to send an update so that some star people don’t think we are dumb asses?
For the record I’m okay with Pluto at 9.


8 posted on 03/29/2026 3:27:06 PM PDT by nomorelurker
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