What do aliens listen to?

A presentation of a Bulgarian icon

by Vassilena Valchanova

The Voyager programmeThe Voyager programme

• A series of U.S. unmanned space missions

• A pair of unmanned scientific probes, Voyager 1 and Voyager 2.

• Launched in 1977 • Currently on course to

exit the Solar System.

The Voyager Golden The Voyager Golden RecordRecord

• Contains sounds and images • Portrays the diversity of life and culture on

Earth• Selected for NASA by a committee chaired

by Carl Sagan of Cornell University – 115 images– spoken greetings in 55 languages – sounds of Earth (Volcanoes, Earthquake,

Thunder; Wild Dog; Kiss of Mother and Child)– 90-minute selection of music

The Voyager Golden The Voyager Golden RecordRecord

Valya Balkanska – Valya Balkanska – Izlel je Izlel je Delyo HajdutinDelyo Hajdutin

A traditional Bulgarian song aliens will listen to• “Delyo the rebel went out with his gang of

peasants from the villages of Dumovo and Karadzhovo. Delyo spoke and ordered the Turkish officials:I have two aunts in the villages - do not convert them into Turks, for when I go down into the village many mothers will be crying and even more young brides.

HistoryHistory• The rebels against the

Ottoman oppressors during Bulgaria’s Ottoman slavery were (and still are) considered national heroes.

• They were ready to fight for their freedom and the well-being of their local community.

• The region of the Rhodope mountains, where this song comes from, was populated with the most notable rebels, who showed the proud and free Bulgarian spirit.

The The VVoyager 1 and 2oyager 1 and 2 will carry will carry on floating through space long on floating through space long after humans are gone. Theyafter humans are gone. They’’re re

expected to continue for at least 2 expected to continue for at least 2 billion years before space dust billion years before space dust

erodes them to nothingerodes them to nothing