Greetings fellow commanders!
it's my first post in this whole monster thread but i'm diping in it closely from time to time. i've never spoken before because I had nothing to cotrinbute. But now i have a theory about message from unknown probe. I'm willing to throw it at you guys now so we could together take it apart and find weak and strong points in it.
Disclaimer: I have no idea if this has been proposed before or not. i was searching for any info in this mega thread to determin that but I'm casual resarcher

if so then sir i'm onboard this theory as well.
I'll be reffering to this image ofc:
So far I agree with those who spoken before me and suggested that symbols around central image corresponds to numbers 1,2,3,4 and also that those numbers are the instruction in what order we should read the message. And also that it's a sphere in the center of the image.
However i disagree the sphere is a Merope. I'm almost sure it's something else. In fact it's the sphere where you can find uknown artefact around Merope system.
Keeping that in mind clues from the message can be read as instruction where we should look for next clues. Precise distance and direction relative to Merope system.
Here's how:
1. First instruction pionts the direction where we should go.
Here's how it looks in game:
It also says take the radius of the sphere.
As we know unknown artifacts can be found in 135-150 ly distace from Merope. Let's say 140 ly to be in the middle.
2. Second instruction hilights the perimeter of the sphere. it's basic math right? So distance L = 2*pi*R That gives us L = 2*3,14*140ly so L = 879,2ly
This is the distance of how far relative to Merope we should look for.
3. Third instruction tells us to switch into another plane. So we should now read next instruction verticaly. Someone spoted this before in this thread. This is more clear when we take step back and look into original image.
It's almost like prim notation that sometime is used in math. It's used to take something out of the equation and transform it on the side to perform some operation only on that part. This way 4th instruction starts to make sense.
4. Last instruction says the value of vertical angle that we should aplay to our already established trajectory in relative to Merope's plane. it's more or less 1/3 of the 1/4 of circle that gives us 1/12 of 360 degree so in the end 30 degrees.
In game this looks like this:
5. So all this point's at few lovely nebulas. Most likely at Spirograph Nebula. it could be also pointing at Bernards Loop or any other nebula in that cluster of nebulas around it. But the thing is math doesn't work for them, it's too far if i'm right. Spirograph Nebula is in perfect distance and angle relative to Merope but i'm here all day today and nothing... Don't get me wrong it's a cool system. Lot's of bodies to scan. Cool background almost like in No Man's Sky but none trace of aliens :/
Altough there is a part of the mesege on the left side that i have yet to decipher. it's too distorted for me but it could be instruction on which stellar bodie to look.
So here are pros and cons of this theory.
Pros:
- Instruction is very simple and easy to follow. it doesn't require any time related operations. Aligment of planets isn't required. None of the messy stuff. Nice and easy. And strict to the bare minimum.
- In the same time instructions are very precise. Distance, angle in galaxy's plane, angle in vertical plane. So we can get exact numbers from it with acceptable margin of error.
- it looks like somehow realted to our modern trys of extraterestial contact as it was pointed before. And region where it's pointing is well in range of our brodcasts from Sol. Our firsts radio brodcasts are dated for 19/20th century. So 1500 years in game time frame. it's well in range to find those and answer to them.
- Right now there is a huge bubble around Spirograph Nebula of systems that requires an unkown permit. Myself and few friends somehow managed to slip through. When you are inside that bubble you can travel freely. There are still few systems locked but most are open. Yet so far empty with alien related content.
- Someone pointed before that symbol on the barnacle looks like Bernard's Loop and it's well visable from pointed coordinates.
Cons:
- i followed strictly to those "deciphered" instructions and found nothing. My theory is that right now there is nothng here and it could show up when 2.2 drops. But it's a guess. It looks like wall of systems with permit requirement is to prevent players of searching this space at the moment. I somehow slip through but probably I shoiuldn't be here.
- My interpretation of first instruction could be a wishful thinking. There's no indication of Sag A really.
- In fact all of this could be wishful thinking so i hope you have your tinfoil hats fully operational right now
So what you are thinking of all of this?