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It seems like they're calculating the farthest distances where it would be theoretically possible for aliens with Earth level tech to detect us, for various dif
by 00N8 2y ago
It seems like they're calculating the farthest distances where it would be theoretically possible for aliens with Earth level tech to detect us, for various different ways of detection. I'm curious about a related question: At what distance would we likely have been able to detect 'ourselves' with current technology? Ie. if there was another Earth 100 or 1000 light years away, would we have seen it by now? (Assume they are x years ahead so the signals have had time to propagate).
I think it may be a relatively short distance, which could have implications for resolving the Fermi paradox, but I haven't seen any definitive estimates & I'm curious to learn more.
- falcor84 2y agoMy understanding based on their use of "technology similar to ours" is that this is exactly what they're doing: >If an extraterrestrial civilization existed with technology similar to ours, would they be able to detect Earth and evidence of humanity? If so, what signals would they detect, and from how far away?
- 00N8 2y agoI was thinking we probably can't watch the whole sky in maximum detail all at once, so in practice we'll miss most possible detections.
- InDubioProRubio 2y agoThey could get a 25km high-resolution picture of the planet? https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solar_gravitational_lens https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solar_gravitational_lens
- ben_w 2y agoThe caveat "with technology similar to ours" precludes that, I think. We know how to do that, but we also know how to build an O'Neill cylinder, a phased array optical telescope covering the surface of the moon, or an orbital ring — but practical considerations mean we actually can't.