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Azred · 06-21-2002, 11:14 AM

Another thing to consider is that we didn't have radio until the very early part of th 20th century. At best, the earliest radio signals are only 100 light-years out; the farthest detectable radio signals are probably only 50 to 75 light-years out. No alien world could detect signs of intelligent life here should their planet be more distant than that. If we suppose that any alien civilization has attained technology comparable to ours, then we could only detect their radio signals if they are closer than about 75 light-years; this makes the distance roughly 150 to 200 light-years for the closest civilizations.
That is a huge distance to cover--it would prevent effective communication, even (are you going to wait 400 years for an answer to "how are you today?").
Strangely enough, many people seem to assume that any alien civilization is more advanced than we are. What if we are the most technologically advanced civilization in the universe? [img]graemlins/saywhat.gif[/img]

06-21-2002, 11:14 AM	#2
Azred Drow Priestess Join Date: March 13, 2001 Location: a hidden sanctorum high above the metroplex Age: 55 Posts: 4,037	Another thing to consider is that we didn't have radio until the very early part of th 20th century. At best, the earliest radio signals are only 100 light-years out; the farthest detectable radio signals are probably only 50 to 75 light-years out. No alien world could detect signs of intelligent life here should their planet be more distant than that. If we suppose that any alien civilization has attained technology comparable to ours, then we could only detect their radio signals if they are closer than about 75 light-years; this makes the distance roughly 150 to 200 light-years for the closest civilizations. That is a huge distance to cover--it would prevent effective communication, even (are you going to wait 400 years for an answer to "how are you today?"). Strangely enough, many people seem to assume that any alien civilization is more advanced than we are. What if we are the most technologically advanced civilization in the universe? [img]graemlins/saywhat.gif[/img] __________________ Everything may be explained by a conspiracy theory. All conspiracy theories are true. No matter how thinly you slice it, it's still bologna.