Science and Aliens: Is an Alien megastructure being build around Tabby's Star? 2017.
Due to the increasing availability of astonomical data and imagery NASA is unable to process all the data they have been getting from the Kepler telescope. To help NASA search for extraterrestrial life and other information about stars and galaxies this data has been released for the public. Now a great number of amateur astronomers are able to check the data and pass on their findings to NASA. The same was the case for what is now called Tabby's star(KIC 8462852). The interesting thing about this star is that it has been dimming periodically while later returing to its original brightness. Something is obscuring the light that should have been visible from earth.
A Dyson Sphere (source: http://energyphysics.wikispaces.com/Proto-Dyson+Sphere)
To put things in perspective when Jupiter, the largest planet in our solar system, passes our sun there is only a 3% loss of brightness. Because of these big differences and fluctuation in the lights intensity that is coming from the star usual scientific theories don't seem to explain this phenomenon, some extraordinary explanations have been opted.
Jupiter's size compared to earth (Source; https://www.universetoday.com/15453/what-is-the-biggest-planet-in-the-solar-system/)
Scientists have given several reasons for why this might have happened but most have been disproven:
- There are massive planets orbiting around Tabby's star;
As shown above this not probable according to usual planet sizes in solar systems.
- Interstellar dust is orbiting around Tabby's star;
Clouds of gas or debree are usually present around very young stars that have just started to give birth to its surrounding planets. Howerver the position and speed of the star seem to rule out the theory that Tabby is a young star.
- Planetary debree;
Sometimes planets or other galactic objects collide producing massive amounds of debree. This could be the reason why the star has been dropping in brightness. Then again, scientist don't believe that it is very probable that the Kepler telescope could have recorded such an event because they are so rare in the universe.
- Disintergrating comets;
It could be a cloud of disintergrating comets that is orbiting eliptically around Tabby's star. Evidence of loss of brightness has been found amongst other stars. Yet not in the amound this star has been dropping in brightness.
- Alien megastructure;
This is the most interesting and strange theory of them all. Several scientific papers claim that this might be what is called a Dyson sphere, named by Freeman Dyson who first came up with the idea.
A Dyson sphere is a mega structure build around a sun to capture its light, radiation and energy. According to Dyson the sphere is a consequence of a civilization that is in dire need to keep their highly advanced technology going. This civilization would build such a structure around the sun to keep surviving.
According to what is called the Kardashev scale there are different types of advanced civilizations;
- Type I is a civilization that is able to harness all the energy that radiates from their parent star to their planet, and all the other sources of energy from their planet.
- Type II is a civilization that is able to harness all the energy of their parent star directly (through structures like a Dyson sphere)
- Type III is a civilization that is able to harness all the energy on a scale of their entire galaxy. They could gain energy from all their stars, perhaps even from the blackhole at the center of their galaxy.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kardashev_scale
I think it is really exciting that theories like these are accepted on a scientific level and become approachable as real theories even in the mind of the public. This opens possibilities for our civilization to think about our future and the future of our planet. How can we as a species get to an advanced level like this? Whe'd have to change our culture before we can change our societies and civilization as a whole. What do you guys think needs to change in order for us to advance to new technological levels whitout destroying ourselves and the planet in the process?
All the best,
TravisGood