RE: starship-design: It's a bad, bad world out there

[David Levine <david@actionworld.com>]

> ----------
> From: 	Kyle R. Mcallister[SMTP:stk@sunherald.infi.net]
> 
> David Levine wrote:
> > 
> > Is this necessarily true?
> > 
> > Ref.:
> > http://www.landfield.com/faqs/astronomy/faq/part6/section-13.html
> > How far away could we detect radio transmissions?
> > 
> > The idea behind this part of the sci.astronomy FAQ is that detection
> of
> > normal radio and television signals at interstellar distances is a
> myth.
> > Math is included.  One summary quote:
> > "Even a 3000 meter diameter Radio Telescope could not detect the 'I
> Love
> > Lucy' TV show (re-runs) at a distance of 0.01 Light-Years!"
> 
> Yes, it is true. Unfortunately they can't hear TV shows without BIG
> radio arrays. Or is that fortunate...?
> 
Actually, I was asking if Kelly's assumption that a power grid like ours
would be detectable at interstellar distances, not if the quote from the
FAQ was true.

> Well, that depends on what kind of power grid you're speaking of. Low
> tech would be virtually undetectible. Mid level, like us VERY
> detectible. High tech may be either blaringly loud, or more likely
> very
> silent. Or it could account for some of the IR emmisions we've
> detected
> 
Well, this is what I mean - assuming that very highly advanced
civilizations would contain their power leakage (it's a waste, for one
thing) then we're only talking about civilizations like us.  I'd like to
know - are you and Kelly both assuming it would be detectable?  Or do
you guys have figures to back it up?

WHY is the Earth's power grid detectable from, say, Tau Ceti?
Narrowband radar I'll agree to - I've seen the numbers.  But I'd like to
see numbers on how much EM radiation our power supplies leak.
-----------------------------------------------------------------
David Levine                                david@actionworld.com
Director of Development               http://www.actionworld.com/
ActionWorld, Inc.                                  (212) 387-8200
"The only reason for time is so that everything doesn't happen at once."