Half a croissant, on a plate, with a sign in front of it saying '50c'
h a l f b a k e r y
If you can read this you are not following too closely.

idea: add, search, annotate, link, view, overview, recent, by name, random

meta: news, help, about, links, report a problem

account: browse anonymously, or get an account and write.

user:
pass:
register,


           

Solar Communicator

Send messages other planets might see
  (+2)
(+2)
  [vote for,
against]

We are at a point with technology where we can "see" large planet objects orbiting near stars. Within a few decades we'll be able to see smaller objects, perhaps moon-sized objects. Our view won't be very detailed but we'll be able to notice shapes and shadows.

Let's assume beings on other planets have this capability now and could in theory point their telescopes at our star.

What if we set up a beacon in our solar system capable of presenting visible messages to other systems? Imagine a simple deployable robot that can inflate and deflate itself based on incoming data. Now connect 1 million of them in a long line and set them up on a communication chain so they all do the same thing. Now set up 2 more lines at perpendicular angles (X, Y, Z) so we have a large 3D crosshairs object in our system which, by tandem inflation and deflation, becomes "more visible" and "less visible", sending morse code, binary, or just an alternating on/off signal like an ocean buoy.

The objects could be reflective, or lens-based, radioactive (a good use of our nuclear waste?) or be oriented in some other way to be highly visible from other systems.

Are we looking for these kinds of beacons in other solar systems? I wonder what we would do if we found one?

napoleonbag, Nov 03 2015

[link]






       What would you do make a giant Dyson sphere that could change from transparent to opaque to send signals to other worlds?
travbm, Nov 03 2015
  

       We already have clouds. The thing is: When are the clouds showing meaningful messages, and how do we know that?
pashute, Nov 04 2015
  

       The Voices In Your Head will tell you, [pash].
8th of 7, Nov 04 2015
  

       .... . .-.. .-.. --- --..-- .. .- -- --- ..-. ..-. ... .--. .-. .. -. --. --- ..-. . .- .-. - .... .-.. .. -. --. .-. --- -.-- .- .-.. -.-. .- ... - . .-.. . .- -.. . .-. .-.-.- .-.-.- .-.-.-
FlyingToaster, Nov 04 2015
  

       Why would we want to do that? We seem to be having enough trouble just surviving, seems like an invitation to visit a solar system where the inhabitants spent their entire paltry fortune installing a massive lighthouse-cum- tombstone.
WcW, Nov 04 2015
  
      
[annotate]
  


 

back: main index

business  computer  culture  fashion  food  halfbakery  home  other  product  public  science  sport  vehicle