Could there be intelligent life in the star system KIC 8462852?
Staff writer ▼ | November 7, 2015
A recent analysis of data collected by the Kepler space telescope has shown that this star, informally known as Tabby's Star, evidences aperiodic dimming of 20 percent and more.Article continues below
While several natural explanations for this strong change in luminosity have been proposed, one possibility is that a technologically adept civilization has built megastructures in orbit around star, causing the dimming.
One example of a large-scale astroengineering project would be the construction of a so-called Dyson swarm of solar panels for large-scale energy collection. Other possible structures include artificial space habitats, or a planet-size or larger occulting object intended to provide a long-lasting signal to other galactic inhabitants. In order to investigate the possibility of a deliberate cause of KIC 8462852's unusual behavior, the SETI Institute has trained its Allen Telescope Array on this star for more than two weeks. The Array consists of 42 antennas, each 6 meters in size, and is located approximately 500 km north of San Francisco in the Cascade Mountains.
Two different types of radio signals were sought. Narrow-band signals, of order 1 Hz in width, such as would be generated as a "hailing signal" for societies wishing to announce their presence. This is the type of signal most frequently looked for by radio SETI experiments.
Broad-band signals that might be due to beamed propulsion within this star system. If astroengineering projects are really underway in the vicinity of KIC 8462852, one might reasonably expect the presence of spacecraft to service this activity. If these craft are propelled by intense microwave beams, some of that energy might manifest itself as broad-band radio leakage.
Observations will continue, but so far no evidence of deliberately produced radio signals has been found in the direction of KIC 8462852. ■ What to read next
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