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Could it be a message? Why to send from place to place a radio signal when we could set up a bunch of planets in an improbable/impossible regular configuration

Could it be a message? Why to send from place to place a radio signal when we could set up a bunch of planets in an improbable/impossible regular configuration to be noticed from everywhere during a very long time frame? Probably it is the argument of several existing science fiction books.

rbanffy 6y ago
"We were"
TeMPOraL 6y ago
Star Trek: Picard did that with stars recently.
Razengan 6y ago
That is exactly what happens in Star Control II. One of the most satisfying Easter Eggs I found on my own.
- philsnow 6y ago
  are you talking about the rainbow worlds pointing corewards, or something else?
  - Razengan 6y ago
    Yes. It was a huge driver of my anticipation for a sequel (which sadly didn't deliver).
svachalek 6y ago
Yeah the Pierson's Puppeteers in Ringworld (1970) did something like that [edit: on second thought, it wasn't as a signal though], and I'm sure there are others. But in this case I just don't think this is weird enough, it's probably more a matter of tweaking planetary formation models.
- pradn 6y ago
  Do you remember exactly what was described in Ringworld? I'm curious!
  - gmuslera 6y ago
    The solar system of the puppeteers had a similar configuration (I don't remember if it were with just 5 planets) and they were running from the galaxy, carrying their system with them.
ardy42 6y ago
> Could it be a message? Why to send from place to place a radio signal when we could set up a bunch of planets in an improbable/impossible regular configuration to be noticed from everywhere during a very long time frame? Intuitively, for signalling purposes, setting up six planets in a weird orbital configuration to attract attention seems like it would take WAY more energy to do. Also, it tells you nothing about how to reply to the hail. Though I could see it as some kind of solar system-sized monument.
Razengan 6y ago
Speaking of fucking around on a cosmic scale, I wonder if someone hid something in one of the galactic voids.
pradn 6y ago
One can imagine someone writing a love note by moving stars to form a constellation for the beloved.

rbanffy 6y ago

"We were"

TeMPOraL 6y ago

Star Trek: Picard did that with stars recently.

Razengan 6y ago

That is exactly what happens in Star Control II. One of the most satisfying Easter Eggs I found on my own.

philsnow 6y ago
are you talking about the rainbow worlds pointing corewards, or something else?
- Razengan 6y ago
  Yes. It was a huge driver of my anticipation for a sequel (which sadly didn't deliver).

svachalek 6y ago

Yeah the Pierson's Puppeteers in Ringworld (1970) did something like that [edit: on second thought, it wasn't as a signal though], and I'm sure there are others. But in this case I just don't think this is weird enough, it's probably more a matter of tweaking planetary formation models.

pradn 6y ago
Do you remember exactly what was described in Ringworld? I'm curious!
- gmuslera 6y ago
  The solar system of the puppeteers had a similar configuration (I don't remember if it were with just 5 planets) and they were running from the galaxy, carrying their system with them.

ardy42 6y ago

> Could it be a message? Why to send from place to place a radio signal when we could set up a bunch of planets in an improbable/impossible regular configuration to be noticed from everywhere during a very long time frame? Intuitively, for signalling purposes, setting up six planets in a weird orbital configuration to attract attention seems like it would take WAY more energy to do. Also, it tells you nothing about how to reply to the hail. Though I could see it as some kind of solar system-sized monument.

Razengan 6y ago

Speaking of fucking around on a cosmic scale, I wonder if someone hid something in one of the galactic voids.

pradn 6y ago

One can imagine someone writing a love note by moving stars to form a constellation for the beloved.