Half a croissant, on a plate, with a sign in front of it saying '50c'
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Check for alien life

Reach out with music.
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A spacecraft with solar arrays and a large battery is landed on comets of long orbital duration. When the comets are at apogee the spacecraft will broadcast vile thrash music on various frequencies to the extent of the battery. Upon return to our orbit the solar array will once again charge the battery and transmission will again commence. Scientists will check to see if the system is working, if the playlist is the same or has been reprogrammed, and whether the entire contraption has been vandalized or removed and replaced with something else.
whatrock, Oct 13 2018

A serious version of this idea in reverse. https://en.wikipedi...endezvous_with_Rama
[whatrock, Jun 08 2020]

[link]






       One slight problem: comets don’t leave the Solar System.
DrCurry, Oct 13 2018
  

       //at apogee   

       If they flub the course, do they release a apogee apology?
not_morrison_rm, Oct 13 2018
  

       / One slight problem: comets don’t leave the Solar System /   

       Fixed, thanks.
whatrock, Oct 13 2018
  

       Basically, the idea was to have a sort of indicator or beacon on something that regularly reaches far beyond our usual monitoring area; a comet with a decades-long orbit would do nicely. While we have sent out interstellar probes containing our information they're only useful if aliens wish to plot a return course. But a passing alien on its way to Magrathea could interact with a comet-mounted device and never have to visit us in person.
whatrock, Jun 06 2020
  

       If interest is peaked, having a quick peak at a lone piece of technology is far better than dealing with the mess. Also wouldn't this be a set and let amateurs check deal, as technology will advance as the centuries pass.
wjt, Jun 07 2020
  

       What's wrong with "apoapsis"?
Voice, Jun 07 2020
  

       You don't have to stop just because he's not here.
pocmloc, Jun 07 2020
  

       Either
pocmloc, Jun 07 2020
  

       At least it isn't a way to modulate the Sun's brightness
sninctown, Jun 08 2020
  

       If someone is just passing through, we can't make judgements on their level of technology.
wjt, Jun 08 2020
  

       This silly idea originated while studying the Voyager deep space probes, each containing information on humans and Earth. Intelligent species could intercept a probe, learn about it and us and perhaps plot a reciprocal course to visit us. And since both probes were launched over 40 years ago perhaps this has already happened.   

       The problem is that the probes are one-way emissaries; aside from their continued meager transmitted info have they encountered intelligent life? Using what we have, how could we send something a great distance and have it return, and know if it had some effect?
whatrock, Jun 08 2020
  

       //We can't.// I was always told, "there's no such word as "can't"". I used to think that was slightly paradoxical, mind.
pocmloc, Jun 08 2020
  

       If the Extraterrestrials are even into our radio waves rather than moving tiny unnatural specks against the void. I would have thought a thorough grounding in void dynamics would be fundamental to interstellar engine design.
wjt, Jun 14 2020
  

       In my opinion FTL really is impossible, meaning time dilation via going super duper fast (a technical term), robots, and generation ships are the only way to go. Those don't necessarily need any understanding of void dynamics.
Voice, Jun 14 2020
  

       Even going near super duper fast will need an understanding of the traversed space. Although, void dynamics may open higher dimensions. Or at the very least, help access to exceptional amounts of energy and the control thereof.
wjt, Jun 14 2020
  
      
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