Aliens could conquer Earth by following 'dangerous' maps NASA 'foolishly' sent into space

[Elderberry]

Fox News By Jasper Hamill Published August 16, 2017

Back in the optimistic early days of space exploration, everyone thought it was a great idea to offer aliens a chart telling them how to find Planet Earth.

But now the man who sent four maps into deep space fears this decision could prove to be disastrous.

 

Frank Drake, an American astronomer and famed alien hunter, worked with Nasa to design maps which were placed inside Pioneer 10 and 11 as well as Voyager 1 and Voyager 2 probes.

All four of these spaceships have now left the solar system and are speeding through deep space.

The plaque placed aboard the Pioneer craft shows a man and a woman alongside a basic map which plots the position of Earth compared to a distant pulsar stars, which are bright and long-lasting so could still direct aliens our way if they are found millions of years from now.

Voyager was fitted with "golden records", which can be played to reveal natural sounds and even images from Earth.

A similar pulsar map is engraved on the front of the records.

Frank Drake now fears it may have been a bad idea to send the maps into space.

More: http://www.foxnews.com/science/2017/08/16/aliens-could-conquer-earth-by-following-dangerous-maps-nasa-foolishly-sent-into-space.html

[dfwgator]

May I suggest they go to Washington, DC, first?

[driftdiver]

OK

The Universe is 13.772 billion years old
The Milky Way is 13.21 billion years old
The solar system is 4.6 billion years old
The earth is 4.53 billion years old
Humans as we are now are maybe 30,000 years old.  Early Neanderthals are what 200,000 years old?
Modern civilization is maybe 6,000 years old.

So say it takes an average of 5,000-8,000 years for a civilization to mature to the point we are at.   
How long to develop interstellar flight?
How long before that civilization fails and falls back to a pre-interstellar level?

What are the odds that such a civilization would decide the earth is worth spending all this time at during that microscopic period where they have the capability?
 

[Wingnut]

[ABX]

 Been there, done that...

[Ghost Bear]

If they're close enough to pick up those probes and read the "maps" the probes carry, then they are more than close enough to pick up and home in on the radio frequency traffic that we've been broadcasting into space since the 1930s. They won't need the maps. 

[driftdiver]

If they're close enough to pick up those probes and read the "maps" the probes carry, then they are more than close enough to pick up and home in on the radio frequency traffic that we've been broadcasting into space since the 1930s. They won't need the maps. 

Interstellar navigation by braille

[Wingnut]

This talk of Alien probes is a bit disconcerting.  Could you all watch your phrasing. 

[driftdiver]

[dfwgator]

This talk of Alien probes is a bit disconcerting.  Could you all watch your phrasing.

[thackney]

This talk of Alien probes is a bit disconcerting.  Could you all watch your phrasing.

[Snarknado]

Oh great - as if global warming and killer asteroids weren't enough, now I've got this to worry about too.

BTW I'm struck by the term "famed alien hunter". Makes me wish I had known years ago how easy it would have been to achieve fame without actually accomplishing anything. By now I could have been known around the world as the "famed unicorn hunter"!

[Taxcontrol]

Umm, Frank, 4 physical satellites is far LESS of a road map than the powerful TV and radio beacons that have been broadcasting for the past 100 years.  Further, the radio signals are much more likely to be intercepted and act like a homing beacon.  Basic physics.

[Cripplecreek]

I think we can rest easy for a few more years.

[Cyber Liberty]

I don't think aliens will be able to hear our RF transmissions.  Considering how fast the signal fades by distance, I can't imagine the most powerful transmissions would stand out from the "noise" that's out there naturally.  It's why I think SETI is a wild goose chase.

[Cripplecreek]

I don't think aliens will be able to hear our RF transmissions.  Considering how fast the signal fades by distance, I can't imagine the most powerful transmissions would stand out from the "noise" that's out there naturally.  It's why I think SETI is a wild goose chase.

Radio is pretty low tech. Laser is much better but still fades pretty quickly without massive power behind it.

Most likely if there are aliens communicating across light years, they're using something we haven't even conceived of. In fact it really needs to be faster than light speed and the only things we can imagine at this point are the expansion of space and Einstein's spooky reaction at a distance.

[Polly Ticks]

[dfwgator]

[Oceander]

I wish they'd get around to invading.  Things are headed down the tubes, anyway. 

[Wingnut]

I wish they'd get around to invading.  Things are headed down the tubes, anyway.

If they have been watching...I figure they just need to wait a few years.  Don't you think?

[Gefn]

I wish they'd get around to invading.  Things are headed down the tubes, anyway.

They already landed in NJ, once upon a time.....:)

[Cyber Liberty]

If they have been watching...I figure they just need to wait a few years.  Don't you think?

I'm sure they're just biding their time.  At the rate we're going, they won't even have to Disc the fields, or even break the sod.

[Gefn]

I'm sure they're just biding their time.  At the rate we're going, they won't even have to Disc the fields, or even break the sod.

@Cyber Liberty I hope it's not Alf. Our kitties would not be safe.

[Cyber Liberty]

@Cyber Liberty I hope it's not Alf. Our kitties would not be safe.

Ours are unholy terrors.  Alf better watch his silverware.   

[EC]

Why would they need the map?

Assuming any species ever finds a 20 foot wide machine floating in deep space .... it's antenna is locked on the solar system and will remain so, barring a highly unlikely collision with something, for millions of years yet. All they got to do is look in that direction.