stolfi@magic.DEC.COM (Jorge Stolfi) (03/22/86)
--------------------------------------------------------------------- JPL scientists seem unable to explain the features seen by Voyager on Miranda (the nth moon of Uranus, for some integer n). They seem to be particularly puzzled by a big "V" or "L" shaped feature, the so-called "chevron", smack in the center of Miranda's visible hemisphere. As a devout believer in the Spirit of Scientific Cooperation, I thought I should come to their rescue by making public my own theories on the subject. After careful scrutiny of the available photos, I can most assuredly say that the feature is either * the local Filipino community expressing their support for Cory Aquino; or * a warning to outbound interstellar voyagers that Miranda is their last chance to buy California Lottery tickets; or * a ckeck mark certifying that the Solar System passed final inspection by God's Quality Control Team. In support of the third hypothesis, I should point out that a big capital "O" (referred to by JPL scientists as the "racetrack") is clearly visible to the right of the check mark, close to the moon's limb. I think it is quite likely that future missions will find on the other side of Miranda a similar feature in the shape of a big capital "K". j stolfi :-) -------------------------------------------------------------------- "The opinions expressed above are certainly not the sort of thing my school and my employer would like to be associated with."