The first alien probes to reach us could be detected in the wrong order of arrival

The first alien probes to reach us could be detected in the wrong order of arrival

The idea of ​​first contact with an extraterrestrial has haunted men for centuries. But if a A ship from another galaxy Walked around our solar system, what would it look like? That is the question that Graeme Smith Tries to answer in an article published inInternational Journal of Astrobiology. Note that the latter is a professor and astronomer in the Department of Astronomy and Astrophysics at the University of California in the United States. Effective way, Move through interstellar space Complex.

It could take thousands or even millions of years. Study the Graeme H. smith Focuses on a specific scenario. Imagine that one day we receive a visit from a space probe A distant civilization. Obviously, the world will be shocked, but the surprising thing is that we may not receive them in the correct order of launch. In fact, this is the first probe to reach our beautiful planet It probably won’t be the first to be launched. To simply explain this theory, the first probe launched by an intelligent civilization could reach us centuries after the next, and therefore not in the correct order of arrival. But how is this possible?

If an alien civilization embarks on a program to send probes to interstellar destinations, the first probe to arrive will likely not be one of the first sent, but a vehicle with much more advanced technology than the first. The illustration is not contractual. Image credit: NeozOne (generated by AI)

faster than ever

The author opened study it With a fascinating subject to say the least: the technological capabilities and skills of extraterrestrial civilizations Those who build space probes are getting better and better with time. As a result, the first out-of-the-box vehicle we discover may not be the first used by our cosmic neighbors. Let’s assume that our technology is steadily advancing and that we send a probe into space every 100 years. The chariot that was deployed 10,000 years later reached its destination much earlier than the one we sent today Thanks to the great improvement in technology Motors.

See also  The New Horizons probe detects excess light from the cosmic optical background

Interesting idea

Based on this scenario, Smith estimates that Probe 140, which will be sent in about 14,000 years, should reach the same destination about 2 million years ago. Voyager 2. Recall that the latter is A space probe left Earth in August 1977. On November 25, 2021, it was about 19.2 billion kilometers from the sun. “If an interstellar ship sent by an alien civilization enters the solar system, it is likely that it will not be an artifact similar to perhaps a Voyager-like probe that has worn down over time, but rather a more complex craft, even if it is no longer functioning.” explains the UCLA astronomer.

It may not even be the first interstellar probe
It may not even be the first interstellar probe. The illustration is not contractual. Image credit: NeozOne (generated by AI)

Take it with a grain of salt

Note that this concept brought up by Smith is purely speculative. There is no way to verify that Aliens They will run their own space exploration program. Still, it’s a study worthy of our attention, given the fact that humanity could one day do so Contact with other civilizationss…so you better be prepared for all eventualities!

You May Also Like

About the Author: Irene Alves

"Bacon ninja. Guru do álcool. Explorador orgulhoso. Ávido entusiasta da cultura pop."

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *