Possible ET?

[nebulaJP]

Wright and his co-authors say the unusual star’s light pattern is consistent with a “swarm of megastructures,” perhaps stellar-light collectors, technology designed to catch energy from the star.

Apparently, they're going to do some tests on this in January 2016.

 

[Shemjaza]

It's very awesome, but it will probably be less interesting then that. (How could it not be less interesting).

I suspect "cloud of mega structures" looks a lot like "huge pile of captured comet material" which also looks like "we don't have a good image of this system yet, so it's all blurry around the edges".

But, let's assume for a second that we are looking at a civilisation that exists on a scale that it's buildings black out their sun, what would we really have to say to them? How primitive we would seem.

 

[SkyWriting]

It's very awesome, but it will probably be less interesting then that. (How could it not be less interesting).I suspect "cloud of mega structures" looks a lot like "huge pile of captured comet material" which also looks like "we don't have a good image of this system yet, so it's all blurry around the edges".

But, let's assume for a second that we are looking at a civilisation that exists on a scale that it's buildings black out their sun, what would we really have to say to them? How primitive we would seem.

We would be saying "If you need space, there is plenty of concentrated protein when you get here."

 

[Oafman]

I think this story is the conclusion of journalists rather than of scientists.

Get back to me if we find anything unusual in the radio waves coming from that system.

 

[crjmurray]

It's very awesome, but it will probably be less interesting then that. (How could it not be less interesting).

I suspect "cloud of mega structures" looks a lot like "huge pile of captured comet material" which also looks like "we don't have a good image of this system yet, so it's all blurry around the edges".

But, let's assume for a second that we are looking at a civilisation that exists on a scale that it's buildings black out their sun, what would we really have to say to them? How primitive we would seem.

 

[Strathos]

I read somewhere that any civilization advanced enough to build a Dyson swarm/similar solar collecting device would not need to, as they would have the technology to build more efficient sources of energy.

 

[Loudmouth]

Wright and his co-authors say the unusual star’s light pattern is consistent with a “swarm of megastructures,” perhaps stellar-light collectors, technology designed to catch energy from the star.

Apparently, they're going to do some tests on this in January 2016.

One of the "let downs" of ET searches in astronomy is the lack of Dyson spheres around stars. If they exist we should be able to find them with IR telescopes, but none are seen. Kind of disappointing . . . or exciting because we could be the first intelligent species to build one in our corner of the universe.

 

[Oafman]

I realise that a big cloud of comet dust is a less exciting explanation than a GIANT ALIEN POWER STATION!!1!. But my money is on the natural explanation.

The next time this object crosses in front of the star is May 2017, so we can have another look then. If it has grown, i'll be interested!

I also don't think we should get too excited about pointing radio telescopes at the system. Any civilization smart enough to build enormous structures in orbit is not going to be sending out too many radio waves; they'll have quantum entanglement comms or something equally difficult for us to comprehend.

 

[Shemjaza]

I realise that a big cloud of comet dust is a less exciting explanation than a GIANT ALIEN POWER STATION!!1!. But my money is on the natural explanation.

The next time this object crosses in front of the star is May 2017, so we can have another look then. If it has grown, i'll be interested!

I also don't think we should get too excited about pointing radio telescopes at the system. Any civilization smart enough to build enormous structures in orbit is not going to be sending out too many radio waves; they'll have quantum entanglement comms or something equally difficult for us to comprehend.

Quantum entanglement comms might be impossible, but they even just have well aimed radio communication. We already leak a whole lot less clear radio signals then we did a half a 70 years ago.

Regardless it's still an astronomical mystery and I'll be waiting for more information.

 

[Strathos]

One of the "let downs" of ET searches in astronomy is the lack of Dyson spheres around stars. If they exist we should be able to find them with IR telescopes, but none are seen. Kind of disappointing . . . or exciting because we could be the first intelligent species to build one in our corner of the universe.

Or it could be the equivalent of ancient people thinking a more advanced civilization would have chariots pulled by hundreds of horses each.

 

[Loudmouth]

Or it could be the equivalent of ancient people thinking a more advanced civilization would have chariots pulled by hundreds of horses each.

Perhaps. It just seems like a Dyson sphere or ring solves a ton of problems. A sphere with a diameter equal to Earth's orbit would have a massive amount of surface area. Overpopulation wouldn't be a problem until you hit the multi-trillion mark. If memory serves, the combined mass of Jupiter and Saturn might be enough to make one.

But perhaps you are right, future civilizations may not be tied to land masses in the same way we are not tied to horses.

 

[Dr GS Hurd]

Wright and his co-authors say the unusual star’s light pattern is consistent with a “swarm of megastructures,” perhaps stellar-light collectors, technology designed to catch energy from the star.

Apparently, they're going to do some tests on this in January 2016.

That was the last of several other more likely ideas.

Why don't people read the actual, original scientific paper?

 

[loveofourlord]

I read somewhere that any civilization advanced enough to build a Dyson swarm/similar solar collecting device would not need to, as they would have the technology to build more efficient sources of energy.

That assumes it's possible, we don't know what the limits are on alot of things, for all we know what we think of as limits for speed and everthing are.

On this, this is interesting, I know we have one other possible alien source, that one WOW signal we've never been able to find again, and I think like with that one, if we some day figure it out and it's not alien thats just as exciting :> Maybe we learn something we didn't before, could this be a new form of planet formation? Or what :>

 

[nebulaJP]

Update:

Since October 16, the SETI institute has been using its Allen Telescope Array to observe KIC 846 2852 over a wide range of radio frequencies (1 to 10 GHz), looking for any artificial signals. Keep in mind that this star system is relatively far, roughly 1400 light-years away. That's more distant than the Orion Nebula, and getting there (if you feel the need) would require a 23 million year ride in our fastest rocket. But more to the point, any signals detectable here on Earth would have to be exceptionally powerful.

We're continuing to analyze the data. In another week, our SETI team will once again observe KIC 846 2852 using some new receivers being affixed to the Allen Array - known as Antonio feeds - that will increase the sensitivity by a factor of two. Check this space.

 

[[serious]]

If memory serves, the combined mass of Jupiter and Saturn might be enough to make one.

Therein lies the bigger problem. Where do we get all that stuff? Certainly not from jupiter. Think of the energy needed to lift that much mass out of those gravity wells. Other nerds have already calculated such things, and we are looking at 2⨉10^36 J to get jupiter dismantled. That would require harnessing the total energy output of the sun for 100 years. So even if we were building a 100% efficient dyson sphere, the payback on the investment is going to be a century. That isn't even counting the energy to change the orbit to where you want.

 

[freezerman2000]

I realise that a big cloud of comet dust is a less exciting explanation than a GIANT ALIEN POWER STATION!!1!. But my money is on the natural explanation.

The next time this object crosses in front of the star is May 2017, so we can have another look then. If it has grown, i'll be interested!

I also don't think we should get too excited about pointing radio telescopes at the system. Any civilization smart enough to build enormous structures in orbit is not going to be sending out too many radio waves; they'll have quantum entanglement comms or something equally difficult for us to comprehend.

Before we get all excited about this,we need to know exactly what we are looking at.
And if the "structures" can't grow because they are the ruins of a dead civilization? What then?
The probability of us not being alone still would jump drastically.

 

[Oafman]

Before we get all excited about this,we need to know exactly what we are looking at.
And if the "structures" can't grow because they are the ruins of a dead civilization? What then?
The probability of us not being alone still would jump drastically.

If they are structures, it's vastly more likely that they're derelict. The chances of the time we happen to look coinciding with the time when an alien civilisation is actively developing are very slight.

But there are natural phenomena we understand, to a degree at least, which we've yet to rule out, never mind those natural phenomena of which we currently have no idea. This discovery is so far from significantly altering the chances that we're not alone.

 

[freezerman2000]

Until we know exactly what we are detecting,your last statement is true.

 

[loveofourlord]

Well the next step is planned, look at them with radio telescopes hoping for some sign of something there, if there is, then we probably have to build a specific radiot telescope to even understand whats there.

Have any tests been done on what material there is there? Or whats the limit on such things? If there is strange elements that shouldn't be there that might hint something.

 

[SkyWriting]

One of the "let downs" of ET searches in astronomy is the lack of Dyson spheres around stars. If they exist we should be able to find them with IR telescopes, but none are seen. Kind of disappointing . . . or exciting because we could be the first intelligent species to build one in our corner of the universe.

It's not practical. The surface would have no usable gravity, and a connected ring or sphere
structure has an unstable orbit. "Nature" is not so stupid in how it designs things. The planetary
system is very stable and "relatively easy" to construct and maintain.

In support of the idea of ET's, keeping all signs of life invisible is smart thinking.
Stealth is a good concept, especially considering humans.