If I understand you correctly, your hypothesis is that this is a map to two points on Merope 5C's surface. Is that right?
Thank you for your questions, and interest. I will try to answer to the best of my ability.
First off, Yes... and no. My hypothesis more specifically is the 45 degree line and the 30/60 degree lines correspond to the rings (side on) and orbital plane respectively. They are included in the message as it is normal to have an agreed fixed start time and/or location as a reference location. I consider it to be a small probability that this is not the case, as the use of the rings and orbital intersection is an obvious, and I think the only, way to fix a consistent location. This is a mathematical property of the system, regardless of the message. However it is very unlikely that, by chance, the reference lines in the message correspond to the rings and orbit exactly, at
both time periods (0 and 3.3), and is NOT to be used as a reference time/location mark.
And which point it is, will alternate each cycle. But what are the latitude and longitude of these points (as you would see in your SRV HUD) so that the community can verify your claim? And in layman's terms, when exactly can we see the rings of Merope 5 tilted at that angle? (Like, an exact date and time, in GMT, please.)
When using the lines as reference points, they will always be the same point on the surface at that time, relative to Merope 5. The points do not alternate, as Merope 5c is tidally locked, so the point that is closest to Merope 5 at Time 0 will also be the closest at Time 3.3. They do oscillate due to the axis inclination, so over time the point on the surface will not be directly below Merope 5 relative to the rings.
Note that this initial reference points are not on either of the sub-solar points (ie: Tropic of Cancer/Tropic of Capricorn). If they were they would be at +/-15.78 degrees north/south, and the longitude would not change (see
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Subsolar_point for some more details)
As for the next conjunction.... I think it is tomorrow sometime. I will leave it as an exercise for the reader to work it out.
If my understanding is correct then what is the significance of those two points? Should the UP be taken there to see what it does? How does this relate to MB stating that it is a space-based puzzle if indeed, one must land to verify the solution is correct, or at least, to find the significance of it?
What significance, apart from telling me important navigation details relative to an Alien Map? I don't know.
Should the UP be taken there to see what it does? That is certainly something someone can do - let us know how it goes.
What MB says does not prevent me from doing Science!
I research and identify phenomena, and draw conclusions based on evidence and probablity. (Science! is how science is done in ED) Besides, knowing the orbital plane, rate of rotation, the concept of tidal locking sounds very space-based to me. [big grin]
Also, how could this possibly relate to the UP's message that it emits normally (the wails, chirps, trills, and purrs which have so far befuddled all takers, despite at least three very thorough analyses)?
Beats me.
What other researchers do will always be valuable, but I suspect the need to further antagonise UPs in order to decode the message is redundant, as the UP already gave us a message, and I don't believe it would go to all this trouble to give us a message that was incomplete, or we needed other information to understand it. Unless it is a real tease. [alien] "Here Human: Have this message from the stars, but I am leaving something out so you can torture me in order to read it." Highly unlikely.
My personal speculation: The message is complete for its purpose, and also contains the absolute minimum of information in order to resolve it to a (possibly) unique solution. I think it is highly unlikely the objective of the message is going to be found by blind luck or brute force.
I hope these answer your questions, and if you have any more, please feel free to ask, but please understand that my time is limited...
Stand Back, I'm about to do Science!
Cheers.
Rixaeton - ED Science! (you know - Shoot first! and analyse the debris cloud later...)