At this point of theoretical speculation, it's perhaps just as creatively interesting to visit sci-fi on first contact situations and evaluate their approaches

At this point of theoretical speculation, it's perhaps just as creatively interesting to visit sci-fi on first contact situations and evaluate their approaches to see how they mesh with our astronomical observations. The book that came to mind is a classic, "The Mote in God's Eye." Though there are dozens of delightful variations and imaginative situations, such as with "The Saturn Run." There's an entire spectrum that's been imagined and explored.