Give the gift of eternity - with Stardatecards™ - a greeting card whose message will reach the stars and travel in space forever!
Stardatecards™ are personalized messages sent to far off stars and galaxies that will travel through space for all time. Stardatecards™ are laser light messages sent to deep space from Science Alive! The New Zealand Science Centre in Christchurch, New Zealand.
What Stardatecards™ are and how they work.
Stardatecards™ are greeting cards with a very big difference. The message you write in the card and on this web site will be sent to the astronomical target pictured on the front of the card, or, in the case of Personal Star Greeting Cards - the star featured on the back and inside of the greeting card.
The message you write will travel for ever in space past planets, stars, and galaxies as it travels through our Milky Way galaxy and beyond - and so, really is the gift of eternity.
Stardatecards™ work by connecting the Internet to a specialized laser and a telescope. The laser sends a pulse of light that is aimed using the motorized telescope, so that very far away astronomical objects in space can be accurately targeted - even though they are moving and so are we. (See the ‘About the Science’ page above).
When the astronomical object that is pictured on the card is in the sky above Christchurch New Zealand, Science Centre staff aim the telescope and your message is sent to deep pace. You are then automatically provided a message confirmation number so that you and/or the card recipient can monitor your card’s message transmission and track its progress.
This web site allows you to track your Stardatecards™ message as it journeys through space - to see how far it has travelled from the Earth - and to learn about astronomy and the Universe. (See the ‘Message Progress’ page above).
Sending A Stardatecard™ Message to Deep Space
1) Click on the “For Greeting Card Users’ icon above or any of the card cover images to the left to prepare your Stardatecar™ for transmission.
2) Use the activation number found inside the card to ready the message for transmission. The web site will provide you a confirmation number. Write it in the card in the space provided.
3) The card recipient will use the message confirmation number to monitor the message’s transmission date and time, follow its journey through space and learn about astronomy on-line.
I would like to send a Stardatecard™ message to space - take me to the Activate a Stardatecard™ web page.
I would like to learn more about how my message will last in space forever and the science before sending a message-take me to the ‘About the Science Page’.
Stardatecards™ as a Unique Gift Idea
Stardatecards™ make a one of a kind gift giving idea - and what other gift can actually last - forever!
- Stardate Greeting Cards - With eight styles to choose from. Each has a different astronomical target on the cover, and your personalized message for a loved one will be sent to that actual star or galaxy. The back of each card tells you how to send the message and how many thousands or millions of years it will take for the message to arrive.
Stardate Personal Star Greeting Cards - Ever wanted to wish upon a star, or to make that wish for a loved one. Personal star cards send a message to a very visible and well known star in the night sky. When you and your loved one look skyward you will always have a very personal connection to that star. Each Personal Star card has a picture on the back to assist you and your loved one find your star in the night sky and a pre-written verse inside the card as well as information about your target star.
