# You're an alien. Can you decipher the Pioneer or Voyager plaques? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [February 16, 2017, 5:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/youre-an-alien-can-you-decipher-the-pioneer-or-voyager-plaques/779990 "2017-02-16T17:57:53Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Mr.Kobayashi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4af34b/32.png) [@Mr.Kobayashi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Kobayashi)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2017, 5:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/youre-an-alien-can-you-decipher-the-pioneer-or-voyager-plaques/779990/1 "2017-02-16T17:57:53Z")
So, it’s circa 40,000 C.E., you’re a green skinned space babe/dude taking a quiet trip around Gliese 445 when you detect an impact on your hull. You put on your spacesuit to see if the damage will buff out and get the insurance details, but instead you find [this](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/56/The_Sounds_of_Earth_Record_Cover_-_GPN-2000-001978.jpg/600px-The_Sounds_of_Earth_Record_Cover_-_GPN-2000-001978.jpg). Figuring it’s worth a few thousand quatloos you see if you can flog it to the nearest museum. The curator, it turns out, is extremely interested as he has something [very similar](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Pioneer_plaque.svg) he acquired from parts unknown. But…can either of you decipher the meanings of the symbols on either? ETA: Cheat sheets - [File:Voyager Golden Record Cover Explanation.svg - Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Voyager_Golden_Record_Cover_Explanation.svg) [Pioneer plaque - Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pioneer_plaque#Symbolism) ---
**Author:** ![Crotalus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crotalus/32/41_2.png) [@Crotalus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crotalus)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2017, 6:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/youre-an-alien-can-you-decipher-the-pioneer-or-voyager-plaques/779990/2 "2017-02-16T18:15:23Z")
Not a chance. ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2017, 6:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/youre-an-alien-can-you-decipher-the-pioneer-or-voyager-plaques/779990/3 "2017-02-16T18:35:58Z")
Nice tits! ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2017, 6:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/youre-an-alien-can-you-decipher-the-pioneer-or-voyager-plaques/779990/4 "2017-02-16T18:46:07Z")
> [@Gatopescado](#): > > Nice tits! For a human. They only have two, you know. ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2017, 7:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/youre-an-alien-can-you-decipher-the-pioneer-or-voyager-plaques/779990/5 "2017-02-16T19:27:24Z")
I’d assume it was from an extinct species, since the males have such tiny penises. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2017, 7:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/youre-an-alien-can-you-decipher-the-pioneer-or-voyager-plaques/779990/6 "2017-02-16T19:57:33Z")
> [@Gatopescado](#): > > Nice tits! > [@carnivorousplant](#): > > For a human. They only have two, you know. No tentacles! Sad! ---
**Author:** ![EinsteinsHund](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/einsteinshund/32/8400_2.png) [@EinsteinsHund](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EinsteinsHund)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2017, 8:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/youre-an-alien-can-you-decipher-the-pioneer-or-voyager-plaques/779990/7 "2017-02-16T20:04:34Z")
> [@panache45](#): > > I’d assume it was from an extinct species, since the males have such tiny penises. And the females have no genitals at all :eek:. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2017, 8:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/youre-an-alien-can-you-decipher-the-pioneer-or-voyager-plaques/779990/8 "2017-02-16T20:24:43Z")
> [@EinsteinsHund](#): > > And the females have no genitals at all :eek:. That must be some neuter drone of the species. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2017, 8:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/youre-an-alien-can-you-decipher-the-pioneer-or-voyager-plaques/779990/9 "2017-02-16T20:40:54Z")
I’m a human being and I couldn’t possibly get it without the explanation. What chance does an alien have? ---
**Author:** ![Jophiel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jophiel/32/66_2.png) [@Jophiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jophiel)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2017, 8:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/youre-an-alien-can-you-decipher-the-pioneer-or-voyager-plaques/779990/10 "2017-02-16T20:52:41Z")
> [@panache45](#): > > I’d assume it was from an extinct species, since the males have such tiny penises. That’s just a trick so they don’t think twice about leaving us alone with their green-skinned alien hottie women. > [@RickJay](#): > > I’m a human being and I couldn’t possibly get it without the explanation. What chance does an alien have? I suppose the sort of aliens we care about communicating with are the ones who can communicate back and perhaps travel over here. So they’re already significantly more advanced than us. Maybe it’s a test to see if you’re worth talking to – figure out that that’s a map of the solar system you need to travel to and you’re in. ---
**Author:** ![EinsteinsHund](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/einsteinshund/32/8400_2.png) [@EinsteinsHund](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EinsteinsHund)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2017, 8:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/youre-an-alien-can-you-decipher-the-pioneer-or-voyager-plaques/779990/11 "2017-02-16T20:56:27Z")
> [@carnivorousplant](#): > > That must be some neuter drone of the species. Nah, it’s clearly a female. Didn’t you notice the typical pair of breast brains? ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2017, 9:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/youre-an-alien-can-you-decipher-the-pioneer-or-voyager-plaques/779990/12 "2017-02-16T21:10:17Z")
> [@Jophiel](#): > > Maybe it’s a test to see if you’re worth talking to – figure out that that’s a map of the solar system you need to travel to and you’re in. I keep thinking of the signs at US freeway exits, with icons for hotels, restaurants and gas stations. ---
**Author:** ![Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba9def/32.png) [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Just_Asking_Questions)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2017, 10:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/youre-an-alien-can-you-decipher-the-pioneer-or-voyager-plaques/779990/13 "2017-02-16T22:13:36Z")
I always thought there were a bit…optimistic that any aliens could decipher that. Oh, the hydrogen atom, maybe the pulsar map, I bet someone could figure that out. But even the humans - it might not be clear why there are differences in the two images. Plus, the aliens will never find us - they’ll be looking for a system with 9 planets! ---
**Author:** ![snfaulkner](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snfaulkner/32/433_2.png) [@snfaulkner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/snfaulkner)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2017, 10:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/youre-an-alien-can-you-decipher-the-pioneer-or-voyager-plaques/779990/14 "2017-02-16T22:31:38Z")
> [@RickJay](#): > > I’m a human being and I couldn’t possibly get it without the explanation. What chance does an alien have? This. ---
**Author:** ![Velocity](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/velocity/32/18006_2.png) [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2017, 10:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/youre-an-alien-can-you-decipher-the-pioneer-or-voyager-plaques/779990/15 "2017-02-16T22:50:56Z")
I’m reminded of a Michael Crichton sci-fi novel (might be _Prey_ or _The Andromeda Strain_) in which he talks about a scientist who created a coded message to communicate with aliens - in the event that there are any aliens out there listening in - and that a group of great, intelligent researchers, when presented with the coded message, couldn’t figure it out at all. Once Scientist X explained it to them, then they agreed that it made perfect sense and was a very well designed message, but - that was only \*\*\*after \*\*\*explanation by someone who knew in advance what the message said. So yeah, I think the people who cooked up the Voyager and Pioneer messages are committing the error of a message that makes sense only to the sender, and the sender expects that the recipient will see or think the same way the sender does. ---
**Author:** ![levdrakon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/49beb7/32.png) [@levdrakon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/levdrakon)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2017, 10:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/youre-an-alien-can-you-decipher-the-pioneer-or-voyager-plaques/779990/16 "2017-02-16T22:54:06Z")
The planets and which one launched the probe seems simple enough. The humans are obviously a life form, probably us. Not sure why we feel the need to show the galaxy are genitals though. Exactly what are we advertising here? Come to Earth. We will literally fuck anything. ---
**Author:** ![Velocity](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/velocity/32/18006_2.png) [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2017, 11:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/youre-an-alien-can-you-decipher-the-pioneer-or-voyager-plaques/779990/17 "2017-02-16T23:05:40Z")
As for the circles depicting hyperfine hydrogen or something like that, it would be far more likely, IMHO, that an alien would think that that’s an illustration of sperm penetrating an egg, or something along those lines. ---
**Author:** ![Velocity](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/velocity/32/18006_2.png) [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2017, 11:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/youre-an-alien-can-you-decipher-the-pioneer-or-voyager-plaques/779990/18 "2017-02-16T23:09:16Z")
> [@EinsteinsHund](#): > > And the females have no genitals at all :eek:. According to the Wikipedia entry, apparently some folks felt that it would be obscene to depict a woman’s genitalia, which I don’t understand, since they clearly didn’t have a problem with depicting a man’s genitals. ---
**Author:** ![EinsteinsHund](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/einsteinshund/32/8400_2.png) [@EinsteinsHund](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EinsteinsHund)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2017, 11:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/youre-an-alien-can-you-decipher-the-pioneer-or-voyager-plaques/779990/19 "2017-02-16T23:27:24Z")
> [@Velocity](#): > > According to the Wikipedia entry, apparently some folks felt that it would be obscene to depict a woman’s genitalia, which I don’t understand, since they clearly didn’t have a problem with depicting a man’s genitals. I chalk it up to typical American hang-ups about nudity. Reminds me of the BIG gap of ick between the depiction of female or male nipples in US society… ---
**Author:** ![Dendarii\_Dame](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/bbce88/32.png) [@Dendarii\_Dame](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dendarii_Dame)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2017, 11:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/youre-an-alien-can-you-decipher-the-pioneer-or-voyager-plaques/779990/20 "2017-02-16T23:28:13Z")
I just read a story (in Analog, I think) in which aliens find this and they think It’s a trap! No intelligent civilization would announce its presence to other civilizations, possibly dangerous, unless it was a lure to destroy them. This explains why we seem to be alone in the universe. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/youre-an-alien-can-you-decipher-the-pioneer-or-voyager-plaques/779990.md?page=2)