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{{CommodityInfobox
{{CommodityInfobox
|image = Unknown artefact 001.png
|image         = Thargoid-Sensor.png
|type = Salvage
|type           = Salvage
|gap = 242,485
|gap           = 306,252
|classification = Commodity
}}
}}
{{Quote|Only recently discovered, these mysterious artefacts currently have no designation. Despite much conjecture as to the nature of these objects, it appears that the scientific community is unwilling or unable to openly identify the artefacts' origins. Such mystery only serves to make these objects more widely sought after by wealthy individuals and organisations alike, no matter that their unidentified status automatically prohibits them form being sold on any legal market.|In-game description}}
{{Quote|These strange objects are of Thargoid origin. They have the ability to repair themselves by extracting non-organic material from their immediate environment, and this self-repair mechanism can severely damage starships and other machinery. They can also scan nearby vessels and celestial bodies, and transmit information about the scanned object in an encrypted form.|In-Game Description}}
'''Thargoid Sensors''', originally known as '''Unknown Artefacts''' or '''UAs''', are devices of unknown purpose created by the [[Thargoids]] and found at numerous sites across the galaxy. They can appear on the surface of any planet where any other planet has an ammonia atmospheres present, most commonly an Ammonia Gas Giant. Originally, they were concrentrated in the [[Pleiades Nebula]].


The '''{{PAGENAME}}s''' ('''UA''') have been reported to look like it's made from sentient life, far beyond what we humans are capable of creating. Some people are speculating this is works of [[Thargoids]], who haven't been seen since their disappearance. It is incredibly rare and only a few pilots have been able to see one themselves, thus being able to sell it for a huge reward.
The first of these objects was discovered by independent pilots on May 4, 3301, although it is believed that the [[Federation]] was already researching them by then. When [[Starport]]s began going offline due to technical problems caused by Unknown Artefacts sold on local black markets, a phenomenon first reported in the [[Warkushanui]] system, it became a [[#UA Bombing|popular practice]] among outlaw pilots to sell the objects with the express aim of shutting certain Starports down. On June 26, 3303, it was discovered that the objects could be used to open doors in [[Thargoid Surface Site]]s, directly linking them to the [[Thargoids]] for the first time. On [[Elite Dangerous: Horizons#The Return - v2.4|September 26, 3303]], Unknown Artefacts were formally reclassified as Thargoid Sensors.


== Finding them ==
== Description ==
These {{PAGENAME}}s can be found in [[System Signal Sources|Strong Signal Sources]]. Timocani and 109 Virginis are the only two systems ''confirmed'' to spawn them, but [[Michael Brookes]] has stated that they are 'exceedingly rare' and that they are only available in certain regions of the galaxy, which would suggest that they are in other systems too. Since v1.3 no new UAs have been found. 
[[File:Thargoid Sensor 001.png|thumb|250px|Thargoid Sensor close-up]]
Thargoid Sensors are approximately two metres long, with a "head" resting atop a segmented stalk supporting three columns of canister-like objects. They emit constant noises that can be heard in close proximity. If shot with weapons or rammed, the Sensor will break up into a number of [[Materials]] called [[Sensor Fragment]]s. A Thargoid Sensor will inflict constant corrosive damage to random ship modules, similar to [[Toxic Waste]], unless transported in a [[Corrosion Resistant Cargo Rack]]. If a Sensor is ejected from a cargo hold, it will degrade over time and disintegrate in about six minutes; the degradation can be halted and reversed by returning it to a cargo hold. Note that if a [[Thargoid Interceptor]] detects a ship is carrying a Thargoid Sensor, it will immediately become hostile.[[File:Professor-Palin-and-Unknown-Artefact.png|thumb|250px|Professor Ishmael Palin and a Thargoid Sensor]]It appears that the Thargoid Sensor performs some kind of scan of the closest celestial object or station and then emits a highly distorted [[Wikipedia:Morse code|Morse code]] which represents that body.<ref>[https://forums.frontier.co.uk/threads/ua-mystery-thread-3-the-canonn.175726/#post-2701750 Frontier Forums: UA Mystery Thread 3: The Canonn, post #3]</ref><ref>[https://forums.frontier.co.uk/threads/ua-mystery-thread-3-the-canonn.175726/page-5#post-2702300 Frontier Forums: UA Mystery Thread 3: The Canonn, post #83]</ref> A Sensor will also scan all ships within 1 kilometre, and point and align itself with Merope, a star system in the [[Pleiades Nebula]]. Recordings and decoding of Sensor data also show that it produces a basic line drawing of the ship it scans.


CMDR Wishblend, one of the original UA finders, gives this advice:
== Locations ==
{{Quote|In 109 VIRGINIS, jump in at the big white A class star, go out (away from the star) around 100ls until the locater in the bottom left hand side of your screen says 'Deep Space'.
[[File:Ua-convoyA.jpg|thumb|220x220px|This is the first kind of UA carrying convoy. The Type-9 will eventually jump out of the system]]
[[File:Ua-convoyB.jpg|thumb|220x220px|This is the second version of the UA carrying convoy. This one will hang around and conveniently drop the UA off for you to pick up]]
Thargoid Sensors were originally rare,<ref>[https://forums.frontier.co.uk/threads/soontill-relics-the-regor-permit-sector-and-dbs-cryptic-hints.141038/page-53#post-2179457 Frontier Forums: Soontill Relics, the Regor Permit Sector and DB's cryptic hints...., post #1,053]</ref> but have become common in systems with Ammonia Gas Giants. Any landable planet can have a sensor which will be noted by a [[Nonhuman Signature]]. They can also be found in a 150 ly radius of [[Merope]] at [[Non-Human Signal Source]]s or [[Crashed Thargoid Ship]]s. A Threat Level 4 Non-Human Signal Source will usually contain a single Thargoid Sensor, though if a [[Thargoid Interceptor]] is present it will become hostile if the Sensor is retrieved. Alien Crash Sites sometimes contain salvageable Thargoid Sensors found near the wreckage. They can also be found at certain [[Shipwreck]]s, such as the crashed [[Anaconda]] on LTT 1935 6 a. Outside of the zone centered on the [[Pleiades Nebula]], they may also be found in other regions known for Thargoid activity, such as the [[Witch Head Nebula]] and [[Coalsack Nebula]], and on planets at [[Nonhuman Signature]]s.


Put supercruise speed to minimum and wait for the 'SSS' (Strong Signal Sources) to appear. Some will be ambushes, others nothing that good, so be prepared to run or fight.
Sensors can also be obtained from Threat Level 4 Military Convoys, where they are being transported by a [[Type-9 Heavy]] and can be stolen using [[Limpet Controller/Hatch Breaker|Hatch Breakers]]. There are two convoy configurations: the first includes the Type-9, a [[Vulture]], two [[Anaconda]]s, and assorted other ships, and the second includes the Type-9 with an escort of four Anacondas. The Type-9 will usually charge its [[Frame Shift Drive]] and jump to another system to escape, so it is recommended to attack in a [[Wing]], with one member focusing on the Type-9 while the others distract the escorts.


What you are looking for is one Type 9 Transport being escorted by a few anacondas. Sometimes there are two, sometimes four and sometimes there are other ships as well. The main tell is this: if you have a Type 9 being escorted by Anacondas, check the local chat window. If it is correct then the Type 9 and the Anacondas will be talking to each other about systems malfunctioning.|CMDR Wishblend}}
Crashed Sensor Probes can also be found on landable bodies with materials beside them all across the galaxy. They are great for Sensor fragment farming. The system must have an Ammonia Gas Giant, or sometimes other worlds with an ammonia presence, for sensors to appear. It is not a sign of any Thargoid presence in the system or nearby. Their location will show up as a Nonhuman Signature after a surface scan of a candidate body. Example locations to usually find them are Juenae RX-L c10-8193 and Pleiades Sector FG-Y d32.
[[File:Ua-chat-text.png|thumb|239x239px]]
The image shows the chat that you will see if you have found an instance containing a UA.


There are then two ways to get the UA from the [[Type-9 Heavy]], through patience or by force. The UA eats its way out of the ship holding it by degrading modules over time, so in some cases it will just drop out into space in front of you. However, sometimes the Type-9 will jump out before this happens, so you also have option 2.
== UA Bombing ==
"UA Bombing" was the colloquial term for the practice of selling Thargoid Sensors en masse at a specific station with a black market, with the goal of shutting that station down using the Sensors' technology-disrupting properties. Stations that were shut down could still be docked with, but had most services disabled, similar to a Lockdown state. While the effects of UA Bombing were not permanent and would reverse over time even without intervention, the suspension of vital station services for several weeks could be an inconvenience.


== The mystery of the Unknown Artefact ==
UA Bombing required a significant quantity of Thargoid Sensors, up to 100, though the number varied. The Sensors had to all be sold at the same station within the same week for the UA Bombing to be successful. Once enough Sensors were sold, the station would experience "technical issues" and be "on the brink of closure". At that time, selling thousands of units of [[Meta-Alloys]] at that station before the next weekly server downtime period could counteract the Sensors and prevent the shutdown entirely. If no action was taken, then after the weekly server downtime the station was forced to shutdown. If this occurred, the station would automatically begin repairing itself, but the process took several weeks on its own. Meta-Alloys could be sold there to increase the pace of repairs and shorten the shutdown period.
There is apparently some kind of mystery to be solved around these items, and certain people close to Frontier Developments have said that there are clues in the game, but nobody has spotted them yet. They even went as far to say that they are so obvious that to give any more clues would make it too easy. Despite this, no one has solved the mystery to date. During the period after the first find, some commanders created GalNet content related to the UA which was published, and these are included below but marked with ''[player submitted]''.


===Timeline of possible clues===
On November 29, 3304, [[Aegis]] announced a breakthrough in Meta-Alloy research that allowed extremely small quantities of Meta-Alloys to provide sufficient protection against Thargoid Sensor-related interference, and arranged for shipments of Meta-Alloys to be distributed to affected stations. This effectively marked the end of UA Bombing, as Thargoid Sensors ceased to cause technological damage to stations, and the sale of Thargoid commodities in general was legalized.<ref name="TSDN">[https://community.elitedangerous.com/en/galnet/uid/5bffdc5e33cee07033255f0a GalNet: Thargoid-Sensor Disruption Neutralised]</ref><ref>[https://forums.frontier.co.uk/threads/removal-of-ua-bombing.461658/ Frontier Forums: Removal of 'UA Bombing']</ref>
'''10 February''': Soontill Alien Artefacts are mentioned in GalNet <ref>https://community.elitedangerous.com/galnet/10-FEB-3301</ref>. Subsequently confirmed by FD that these Artefacts are not Unknown Artefacts.


'''10 March''': v1.2 is released. Includes "- Adding valuable salvage convoys to three permitted systems: LFT 509, Isinor, Witch's Reach"
==Timeline==
[[File:Thargoid-Sensor-in-Space.png|thumb|250px|Thargoid Sensor in space]]
{{Quote|Only recently discovered, these mysterious artefacts currently have no designation. Despite much conjecture as to the nature of these objects, it appears that the scientific community is unwilling or unable to openly identify the artefacts' origins. Such mystery only serves to make these objects more widely sought after by wealthy individuals and organisations alike, no matter that their unidentified status automatically prohibits them from being sold on any legal market.|Original In-Game Description for Unknown Artefacts/Thargoid Sensors}}


'''13 March''': The UA appeared for the first time as cargo on board the ship in the official 1.2 Wings trailer <ref>https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=23GEX4pYL9w</ref>
===3301===
'''13 March''': The Unknown Artefact appeared for the first time as cargo on board the ship in the official 1.2 Wings trailer.<ref name=":3">[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=23GEX4pYL9w YouTube: Wings Trailer]</ref>


'''28 April''': Arcannon innocently asks a simple question and starts the longest thread in Elite Dangerous Forums' history <ref>https://forums.frontier.co.uk/showthread.php?p=2160913#post2160913</ref> (now closed) which reached almost 10k posts and has had to be redirected to a new thread <ref>https://forums.frontier.co.uk/showthread.php?t=162998</ref>
'''14 March''': Strange chatter in a Federal Convoy in the Tanmark system reported on Reddit.<ref>[http://www.reddit.com/r/EliteDangerous/comments/2z0w6g/thargoid_transport_in_tanmark/ reddit: Thargoid transport in Tanmark?]</ref>


'''28 April''': Michael Brookes comes into the forum thread and says "Have you listened to them?"
'''28 April''': Dr. Arcanonn asks a simple question and starts the longest thread in Elite Dangerous Forums' history (now closed) which reached almost 10k posts and had to be redirected to a new thread.<ref>[https://forums.frontier.co.uk/threads/soontill-relics-the-regor-permit-sector-and-dbs-cryptic-hints.141038/#post-2160913 Frontier Forums: Soontill Relics, the Regor Permit Sector and DB's cryptic hints...., post #15]</ref><ref>[https://forums.frontier.co.uk/threads/unknown-artefact-or-artifact-community-thread-the-canonn.162998/ Frontier Forums: Unknown Artefact (or artifact) Community Thread - The Canonn]</ref>


'''29 April''': MB confirms later in the same thread that [[Soontill Relics]] are not the same thing as UA's, and that UAs cannot be bought
'''28 April''': Michael Brookes comes into the forum thread and says, ''"Have you listened to them?"'' Garbled Morse code has since been discovered to be in the 'Chittering' part of the sound;<ref name=":1">[https://forums.frontier.co.uk/threads/unknown-artefact-or-artifact-community-thread-the-canonn.162998/page-26#post-2507590 Frontier Forums: Unknown Artefact (or artifact) Community Thread - The Canonn, post #512]</ref> Multiple video and audio recordings of Thargoid Sensor noises were compiled and analyzed by pilots in an effort to decode their meanings.
'''30 April''': Strange parasite that attaches to a nervous system is reported in GalNet, but seems to have been subsequently removed <ref>https://forums.frontier.co.uk/showth...141038&page=59</ref>


'''02 May''': MB says that they are "exceedingly rare [sic] and can only be found within a certain region of space - that does include multiple systems though." and then later clarifies that they can only be found in "certain regions in the galaxy"
'''30 April''': YouTube video posted by a user who had previously posted a UA hoax, so nobody believed it.<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8bAKBADBzC8 YouTube: Unknown Artifact]</ref>


'''02 May''': Senator Kahina Tijani Loren’s Imperial Courier undergoes significant refit <ref>https://community.elitedangerous.com/galnet/02-MAY-3301</ref>
'''4 May''': Wishblend finds the first UA in 109 Virginis, but unfortunately doesn't get it.<ref>[https://forums.frontier.co.uk/threads/soontill-relics-the-regor-permit-sector-and-dbs-cryptic-hints.141038/page-115#post-2187286 Frontier Forums: Soontill Relics, the Regor Permit Sector and DB's cryptic hints...., post #2,293]</ref> Henceforth officially celebrated as UA Day across the galaxy, and the official title of UA Seeker was born. That afternoon, a further number were spotted but RedWizzard finally managed to actually grab one in Timocani.<ref>[https://forums.frontier.co.uk/threads/soontill-relics-the-regor-permit-sector-and-dbs-cryptic-hints.141038/page-119#post-2187567 Frontier Forums: Soontill Relics, the Regor Permit Sector and DB's cryptic hints...., post #2,373]</ref>


'''04 May''': Wishblend finds the first UA in 109 Virginis, but unfortunately doesn't get it. Henceforth officially celebrated as UA Day across the galaxy. That afternoon, a further number were spotted but RedWizzard finally managed to actually grab one in Timocani. Due to a bug a couple more were accidentally duplicated (bug reported). They were spawning a lot that day, for sure.
'''4 May''': ''[Player Submitted]'' GalNet reports baffled 'scientists' (players involved in the search and recovery UAs) having found an Unknown Artefact.<ref>[https://community.elitedangerous.com/galnet/uid/86f2081368ff47d51ff9239e8b2f75bc16e34af8 GalNet: Scientists Baffled by Mysterious Artefacts]</ref>


'''04 May''': ''[Player Submitted]'' GalNet reports baffled 'scientists' (players involved in the search and recovery UAs) having found an Unknown Artefact. <ref>https://community.elitedangerous.com/galnet/04-MAY-3301</ref>
'''7 May''': ''[Player Submitted]'' Dr. Arcanonn challenges President Halsey about UAs. <ref>[https://community.elitedangerous.com/galnet/uid/e4997791212280957af91846c238aef9b78d15d8 GalNet: Arcanonn Challenges Halsey]</ref>


'''06 May''': President Halsey's tour of the frontier announced <ref>https://community.elitedangerous.com/galnet/06-MAY-3301</ref>
'''8 May''': Two sightings of UA Convoys by CMDR Nilreb in Blatrimpe.<ref>[http://imgur.com/a/dDJrg imgur: Find convoi Blatrimpe 08.05.3301]</ref><ref>[http://imgur.com/a/oKNja imgur: UA_hunt_#2]</ref>
'''07 May''': ''[Player Submitted]''  'Dr' Arcanonn challenges Halsey about UAs <ref>https://community.elitedangerous.com/galnet/07-MAY-3301</ref>


'''13 May''': President Halsey sets off from Sol <ref>https://community.elitedangerous.com/galnet/13-MAY-3301</ref>
'''15 May''': Another UA Convoy sighting, this time in HIP 102128.<ref>[https://www.reddit.com/r/EliteDangerous/comments/363y6k/unknown_artifact_found_in_imperial_convoy/ reddit: Unknown Artifact found in Imperial Convoy] by montiofwhitehat</ref>


'''15 May''': 78 Ursae Majoris prepares for Halsey's visit <ref>https://community.elitedangerous.com/galnet/15-MAY-3301</ref>
'''17 May''': ''[Player Submitted]'' Dr. Arcanonn accuses the [[Federation]] of a cover-up of the UAs.<ref name="community.elitedangerous.com">[https://community.elitedangerous.com/galnet/uid/c07072d20059e82cfa731acf8469dd104a7f88fc GalNet: Federation Accused of Cover-up]</ref>


'''17 May''': Kahina Tijani has a custom built 'Gutamaya Discovery Scanner' fitted to her ship <ref>https://community.elitedangerous.com/galnet/17-MAY-3301</ref>
'''18 May''': Analysis of [[Soontill Relics]] finds no direct link to humans or Thargoids, further tests planned.<ref>[https://community.elitedangerous.com/galnet/uid/2ff0af566b06e051c2af52cd02a467351b449535 GalNet: Soontill Relics Test Results Queried]</ref>


'''17 May''': ''[Player Submitted]'' 'Dr' Arcanonn accuses Federation a cover-up about the UAs <ref>https://community.elitedangerous.com/galnet/17-MAY-3301</ref>
'''20 May''': ''[Player Submitted]'' Tonnes of [[Biowaste]] dropped at 78 Ursae Majoris in protest against Federal cover-up of the UA, Dr. Arcanonn denies links with the action.<ref>[https://community.elitedangerous.com/galnet/uid/32edcb230646f31c35f0edc87880b5f692f33452 GalNet: Anti-Federation Terrorists Linked to Artefact Research]</ref>


'''18 May''': Subsequent report on Soontill Relics in GalNet <ref>https://community.elitedangerous.com/galnet/18-MAY-3301</ref>
'''23 May''': ''[Player Submitted]'' A weird message is broadcast from someone somewhere trying to say something negative about the 'scientists' efforts.<ref>[https://community.elitedangerous.com/galnet/uid/a817ba0a6348b4d65e6ca77a171aa300d2998ef9 GalNet: Extraordinary Transmission Contesting Dr Arcanonn]</ref>
'''20 May''': ''[Player Submitted]'' Tonnes of [[Biowaste]] dropped at 78 Ursae Majoris in protest against Federal cover-up of the UA, Dr Arcanonn denies links with the action <ref>https://community.elitedangerous.com/galnet/20-MAY-3301</ref>
'''23 May''': ''[Player Submitted]'' A weird message is broadcast from someone somewhere trying to say something negative about the 'scientists' efforts [citation needed] <ref>https://community.elitedangerous.com/galnet/23-MAY-3301</ref>


'''26 May''': Halsey's Starship One goes missing, official initial report, Felicia Winters steps up as interim president <ref>https://community.elitedangerous.com/galnet/26-MAY-3301</ref>
'''28/29 May''': Conspiracy theories abound concerning the recent disappearance of [[Starship One]] and President Halsey.<ref>[https://community.elitedangerous.com/galnet/uid/8b77b16c574e3d023419b49c2a0a662d6bcc7cea GalNet: The Truth is Out There]</ref>


'''27 May''': Secondary report on what happened to SSOne <ref>https://community.elitedangerous.com/galnet/27-MAY-3301</ref>
'''22 June''': CMDR MahdDogg publishes his panel discussion about Powerplay, in which CMDR Kerrash mentions, ''"About the whole UA thing, there is something behind that, but no one has figured it out yet,"'' (29m 30s) and, ''"[Frontier] have put some really obvious [clues] in there and we don't want to put anything else in,"'' for fear of spoiling what is to come in the future.<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hYWolEEM_e0 YouTube: State of the Game - Elite: Dangerous Panel Discussion]</ref>


'''28/29 May''': Conspiracy theories abound <ref>https://community.elitedangerous.com/galnet/28-MAY-3301</ref>
'''27 June''': CMDR Kerrash talks about various things, including Thargoid conjecture (''"They are coming."''), and the UA and confirms there is something to it, and appeals, ''"If any people watching have got in with the UA thing and got halfway in and not looked into it anymore, please pleeease carry on looking, there is something there, there is an interesting secret there, please look, and the SAP 8 containers as well, there is something going on, don't give up!."''<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4RD6rmO_28s?t=10m53s YouTube: Elite: Dangerous - Kerrash Landing #110 - 2/2]</ref>


'''02 June''': Hudson becomes president <ref>https://community.elitedangerous.com/galnet/02-JUN-3301</ref>
'''5 July''': CMDR Kerrash comes into the new thread, asks, ''"Has anybody cracked it yet?"'' when gently prodded follows up, ''"Frontier did not spend all this effort in making a wild goose chase, I would imagine quite the fanfare when the truth is uncovered. BTW Are we even sure it is Morse code?"'' and, ''"Yes there is more to it, I will see if I can get FD to drop another hint."''<ref>[https://forums.frontier.co.uk/threads/unknown-artefact-or-artifact-community-thread-the-canonn.162998/page-14#post-2502255 Frontier Forums: Unknown Artefact (or artifact) Community Thread - The Canonn, post #263]</ref><ref name=":2">[https://forums.frontier.co.uk/threads/unknown-artefact-or-artifact-community-thread-the-canonn.162998/page-14#post-2502284 Frontier Forums: Unknown Artefact (or artifact) Community Thread - The Canonn, post #267]</ref>
'''05 June''': Strange cannisters called [[Sap 8 Core Container]] appears in the game with launch of v1.3. No evidence that these are linked to UAs


'''22 June''': Mahddogg publishes his panel discussion about Powerplay <ref>https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hYWolEEM_e0</ref>, in which CMDR Kerrash mentions that "about the whole UA thing, there ''is'' something behind that, but no one has figured it out yet" (29m 30s) and that "[Frontier] have put some really obvious [clues] in there and we don't want to put anything else in" for fear of spoiling what is come in the future.
'''6 July''': CMDR Branch finds another UA.<ref>[https://forums.frontier.co.uk/threads/unknown-artefact-or-artifact-community-thread-the-canonn.162998/page-17#post-2503739 Frontier Forums: Unknown Artefact (or artifact) Community Thread - The Canonn, post #340]</ref>


=== List of tests and theories already tried ===
'''10 July''': [player submitted] UA Scientists claim a breakthrough that the UA broadcasts its closest celestial body (or station) in a form of Morse code.<ref>[https://community.elitedangerous.com/galnet/uid/559fde649657ba225a47e853 GalNet: Breakthrough in Artefact Research?]</ref>


==== The Sound ====
'''14 July''': CMDR Patau82 spots another convoy in Timocani, but unfortunately fails to grab it.<ref>[https://forums.frontier.co.uk/threads/unknown-artefact-or-artifact-community-thread-the-canonn.162998/page-95#post-2542242 Frontier Forums: Unknown Artefact (or artifact) Community Thread - The Canonn, post #1,896]</ref>
* The UAs do indeed make an unusual sound. Lots of players have attempted audio decryption using many different techniques and tools. So far nothing has been categorically proven.
* The UAs do sound very similar to the in-ship basic discovery scanner, along with some other strange noises that could be similar to galactic noises heard in the galactic map or in space.
* The sound changed noticeably from v1.2 to v1.3. Similar but different. Tests ongoing.


==== Theories of origin and use ====
'''17 July''': CMDR Kerrash briefly mentions the UA hunt again in his stream.<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VaNKzXqZHg4#t=1289 YouTube: Elite: Dangerous - Kerrash Landing #112]</ref>
* The Formadine Rift
** In Drew Wagar's book "Elite: Reclaimation"<ref>https://fantasticbooksstore.com/store/paperback/elite-reclamation-pb/</ref> one of the characters mentions a hard-to-reach place in the galaxy called the Formadine Rift, where there is something 'worse than the Thargoids'. In true sci-fi thriller/horror tradition, dozens of players immediately went in search of what that might be. <ref>https://forums.frontier.co.uk/showthread.php?t=135529</ref> Drew was quite active in the forum thread and a connection was suggested that this might have something to do with the UA mystery, but any connection still remains unproven.
* Thargoids
** Many people think that the UA is of Thargoid origin. The only evidence for this is that it looks quite alieny.
* Advanced Scanner device
** The sounds the UA makes are very similar to those made by the basic discovery scanner, and recent theories claim that the UA produces a 'stylised Morse code' of the name of the closest celestial body. Tests are ongoing to prove or disprove this theory. <ref>https://forums.frontier.co.uk/showthread.php?t=162998&page=3&p=2488352#post2488352</ref>


==== Systems they have been found or spotted ====
'''19 July''': CMDR Branch finds another UA, the first known commander to retrieve two. This replaced one he had loaned to CMDR Zenith, which was lost to a player killer (not pirate).<ref>[https://forums.frontier.co.uk/threads/unknown-artefact-or-artifact-community-thread-the-canonn.162998/page-146#post-2561730 Frontier Forums: Unknown Artefact (or artifact) Community Thread - The Canonn, post #2,915]</ref>
* Timocani
* 109 Virginis
* Chamunda (citation needed)


==== Places they have been taken ====
'''23 July''': CMDR Britain finds an Unknown Artefact.<ref>[https://forums.frontier.co.uk/threads/unknown-artefact-or-artifact-community-thread-the-canonn.162998/page-207#post-2583760 Frontier Forums: Unknown Artefact (or artifact) Community Thread - The Canonn, post #4,131] </ref>
* Black holes
* Dropped close to Ammonia planets
* Dropped near various stars


==== Places they have '''not''' been taken ====
'''25 July''': CMDR Branch finds another UA, bringing the known possessed count back up to 3. This is also the third UA Branch has recovered.<ref>[https://forums.frontier.co.uk/threads/unknown-artefact-or-artifact-community-thread-the-canonn.162998/page-231#post-2593742 Frontier Forums: Unknown Artefact (or artifact) Community Thread - The Canonn, post #4,605]</ref>
* Sagitarius A (The Galactic Centre)
** As the UA degrades modules quite rapidly, it would a challenging task to take it anywhere of great distance, even with a wing and plenty of [[Auto Field-Maintenance Unit|Auto Field Maintenance Units]].


* Black holes
'''28 July:''' CMDR Blain Crighton & his wing manage to obtain two Unknown Artefacts from the same convoy.<ref group="nb">Obtaining two Unknown Artefacts from the same convoy may be the result of a peer-to-peer bug.</ref> One of theirs was accidentally crushed after being released in a station, the other was sold at Leonard Nimoy Memorial Station.<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O_J6apLfs1I YouTube: Selling UA at LNS]</ref>


==== Tests done ====
'''15 August:''' CMDR Boblit67 discovers the first free-floating Unknown Artefact in a signal source in HR 1185. This is also the first Unknown Artefact obtained by an Xbox One player of Elite Dangerous.<ref>[http://xboxdvr.com/gamer/Boblit67/video/6970550 Gamer DVR: Unknown Artefact]</ref>
* They have been taken to a black hole and recorded
 
* They are quite delicate and behave similarly to normal cannisters in some ways
'''13 October:''' Canonn Interstellar Research Group Announces Breakthrough.<ref>[https://community.elitedangerous.com/galnet/uid/561b89a49657bac839202698 GalNet: Canonn Interstellar Research Group Announces Breakthrough]</ref>
** They degrade over time in space (while ejected) and have a life of about 5 minutes max outside the ship
 
** Like toxic waste, they degrade ship's modules over time randomly while in the hold
'''16 October:''' Technical Trouble in the Warkushanui System.<ref>[https://community.elitedangerous.com/galnet/uid/5620c2b49657bafa242a1853 GalNet: Technical Trouble in the Warkushanui System]</ref>
* They have been allowed to 'expire' in space
 
* They have been shot with mining lasers
'''22 October:''' Technical Issues in Warkushanui Intensify.<ref>[https://community.elitedangerous.com/galnet/uid/56290ddb9657baad39c6c8a7 GalNet: Technical Issues in Warkushanui Intensify]</ref>
* They have been ejected into space next to various other containers:
 
** Toxic waste
'''23 October:''' Technical Trouble in 49 Arietis.<ref>[https://community.elitedangerous.com/galnet/uid/5629fd9e9657bab139c6c8a7 GalNet: Technical Trouble in 49 Arietis]</ref>
** Sap 8 Core Containers (Colour of the emissions change?)
 
** Alien Artefacts
'''26 October:''' Federation Scientist Ishmael Palin Initiates Independent Research Program.<ref>[https://community.elitedangerous.com/galnet/uid/562dfb949657ba7166c8185b GalNet: Federation Scientist Initiates Independent Research Programme]</ref>
** Another Unknown Artefact
 
* They have been ejected inside a station
'''28 October:''' Station Services Suspended at Gurragchaa Gateway.<ref>[https://community.elitedangerous.com/galnet/uid/5630a73e9657ba8066c8185c GalNet: Station Services Suspended at Gurragchaa Gateway]</ref>
* They have been ejected into a Outpost (accidentally)
 
* They do not degrade the ship while docked
'''29 October:''' Technical Issues in 64 Arietis.<ref>[https://community.elitedangerous.com/galnet/uid/5631f2919657bafb4ac8185b GalNet: Technical Issues in 64 Arietis]</ref>
{{Stub}}
 
<references />[[Category:Commodities]]
'''29 October:''' CIRG Researcher Addresses Artefact Developments.<ref>[https://community.elitedangerous.com/galnet/uid/5631fca59657bad642c8185c GalNet: CIRG Researcher Addresses Artefact Developments]</ref>
 
'''2 November:''' Trouble in Varati.<ref>[https://community.elitedangerous.com/galnet/uid/563799119657ba15025fe4ab GalNet: Trouble in Varati]</ref>
 
'''16 November:''' Market Value of Unknown Artefacts Increases.<ref>[https://community.elitedangerous.com/galnet/uid/564a172f9657ba1b090ca1ed GalNet: Market Value of Unknown Artefacts Increases]</ref>
 
'''19 November:''' More Malfunction Reports.<ref>[https://community.elitedangerous.com/galnet/uid/564dbc539657bacd1c4355aa GalNet: More Malfunction Reports]</ref>
 
'''25 November:''' Services Suspended at Gaiman Dock and Weyn Dock.<ref>[https://community.elitedangerous.com/galnet/uid/56558bf29657ba1573802b4d GalNet: Services Suspended at Gaiman Dock and Weyn Dock]</ref>
 
'''26 November:''' CIRG Sends Scientists to Bond Hub.<ref>[https://community.elitedangerous.com/galnet/uid/5656ec669657ba5f70802b4d GalNet: CIRG Sends Scientists to Bond Hub]</ref>
 
'''4 December:''' The Canonn Calls for Halt to Artefact Sales.<ref>[https://community.elitedangerous.com/galnet/uid/56617d6b9657ba562b10d8c3 GalNet: The Canonn Calls for Halt to Artefact Sales]</ref>
 
===3302===
'''4 January:''' Services Suspended at Gabriel Enterprise.<ref>[https://community.elitedangerous.com/galnet/uid/568a999f9657ba5e0986a8de GalNet: Services Suspended at Gabriel Enterprise]</ref>
 
'''7 January:''' Personnel at Obsidian Orbital Confirm Starport Still Operational.<ref>[https://community.elitedangerous.com/galnet/uid/568e88529657ba1123b1b422 GalNet: Personnel at Obsidian Orbital Confirm Starport Still Operational]</ref>
 
'''8 January:''' The Canonn Searching for Barnacles in the Pleiades.<ref>[https://community.elitedangerous.com/galnet/uid/568f9d899657bad51fb1b422 GalNet: The Canonn Searching for Barnacles in the Pleiades]</ref>
 
'''14 January:''' Obsidian Orbital Continuing to Deteriorate.<ref>[https://community.elitedangerous.com/galnet/uid/5697b7319657ba822748c09c GalNet: Obsidian Orbital Continuing to Deteriorate]</ref>
 
'''15 January:''' Alien 'Barnacles' Discovered in the Pleiades.<ref>[https://community.elitedangerous.com/galnet/uid/5698e0529657ba4b5ba11205 GalNet: Alien 'Barnacles' Discovered in the Pleiades]</ref>
 
'''15 January:''' Good News from Obsidian Orbital.<ref>[https://community.elitedangerous.com/galnet/uid/5699164d9657ba837da11204 GalNet: Good News from Obsidian Orbital]</ref>
 
'''20 January:''' More Starports Fall Victim to Technological Plague.<ref>[https://community.elitedangerous.com/galnet/uid/569f610b9657ba7d3461ba04 GalNet: More Starports Fall Victim to Technological Plague]</ref>
 
'''21 January:''' Community Goal: Professor Ishmael Palin Issues Request for Meta-Alloys.<ref>[https://community.elitedangerous.com/galnet/uid/56a0efd59657ba7d3461ba05 GalNet: Community Goal: Professor Ishmael Palin Issues Request for Meta-Alloys]</ref>
 
'''20 May:''' Malfunctioning Starports Restored with Meta-Alloys.<ref>[https://community.elitedangerous.com/galnet/uid/573f15a09657bad96f9b0b7c GalNet: Galactic News: Malfunctioning Starports Restored with Meta-Alloys]</ref>
 
'''26 May:''' Galactic News: No Sign of [[Jaques Station]].<ref>[https://community.elitedangerous.com/en/galnet/uid/5746c56b9657ba1270c36567 GalNet: Galactic News: No Sign of Jaques Station]</ref>
 
'''1 July:''' Freelance Report: The Jaques Rescue Mission.<ref>[https://community.elitedangerous.com/en/galnet/uid/5774ed339657ba7731d2ca7c GalNet: Freelance Report: The Jaques Rescue Mission]</ref>
 
'''30 August:''' Prospects for Malfunctioning Starports Improving.<ref>[https://community.elitedangerous.com/en/galnet/uid/57c59f519657ba8d2a46a7da GalNet: Galactic News: Prospects for Malfunctioning Starports Improving]</ref>
 
===3303===
'''19 January:''' Community Goal: Sirius Corp. to Address Unknown-Artefact Issue.<ref>[https://community.elitedangerous.com/en/galnet/uid/5880da949657ba500a8c0274 GalNet: Community Goal: Sirius Corp. to Address Unknown-Artefact Issue]</ref>
 
'''24 January:''' Starport Status Update.<ref>[https://community.elitedangerous.com/en/galnet/uid/58876d569657ba8c1ac2d313 GalNet: Galactic News: Starport Status Update]</ref>
 
'''1 December:''' Community Goal: Rogue Runners Appeal.<ref>[https://community.elitedangerous.com/en/galnet/uid/5a201ddd00562b2686654fdc GalNet: Community Goal: Rogue Runners Appeal]</ref>
 
===3304===
'''1 February:''' Galactic Community Comes to Aid of Dove Enigma.<ref>[https://community.elitedangerous.com/en/galnet/uid/5a71bb0545e8214e4a4f1682 GalNet: Galactic Community Comes to Aid of Dove Enigma]</ref>
 
'''29 November:''' Thargoid-Sensor Disruption Neutralised.<ref name="TSDN" />
 
== Notes ==
<references group="nb" />
 
== Videos ==
<gallery>
File:Elite_Dangerous_-_Epic_History_of_The_Unknown_Artefact
File:Elite Dangerous UA Features
File:Elite_Dangerous_-_Unknown_Artifact
</gallery>
 
== Gallery ==
<gallery>
File:Thargoid-Sensor-in-Space.png|Thargoid Sensor in space
File:UA-Merope.jpg|Unknown Artefact found on Merope 5 c
20160712135018 1.jpg|Unknown Artefact illuminated by an A-Type star in front of an Asp Explorer
20160712134938 1.jpg|Unknown Artefact in HIP 14479
Sensor.png|Thargoid Sensor Blueprint
Ua-convoyB.jpg
Ua-convoyA.jpg
Ua-chat-text.png|NPC chat at a Military Convoy transporting a UA
UADegradation.png|Unknown Artefact degradation over time. A UA can survive 6m40s before exploding.
</gallery>
 
== References ==
<references />
 
{{Thargoids}}
[[ru:Таргоидский сенсор]]
[[zh:{{PAGENAME}}]]
[[uk: Таргоїдський датчик]]
[[Category:Commodities]]
[[Category:Alien life]]
[[Category:Thargoids]]
Retrieved from "https://elite.mistflux.co.uk/wiki/Thargoid_Sensor"