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waynecochrantoday at 5:24 PM1 replyview on HN

Very cool. On Voyager 2 we placed a map on the side of the probe that places the position of our sun based on an array of Pulsar stars (the map was designed by Carl Sagan). I noted in the PHM movie Rocky and Dr Grace made similar 3D maps (I think they were pulsars(?)). I guess pulsars form natural beacons that can be detected at large distances.


Replies

twoodfintoday at 6:17 PM

Pulsars also have a rotational period that provides a reference point for interpreting arithmetic notation.