975: Occulting Telescope

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Occulting Telescope

Title text: Type II Kardashev civilizations eventually completely enclose their planetary system in a Dyson sphere because space is way too big to look at all the time.

Explanation

A relatively simple arrangement of multiple Dyson Rings of the type pictured above, to form a more complex Dyson Swarm. Rings' orbital radii are spaced 1.5 x 10^7 km with regard to one another, but average orbital radius is still 1 AU. Rings are rotated 15 degrees relative to one another, around a common axis of rotation. (from Wikipedia Commons)

Cueball takes the useful practice of occulting stars beyond its intended purpose. Occulting is used to block the light from a star under observation so that adjacent dim objects, such as any surrounding planets, might be more easily detected and examined. Instead of blocking the light of a single star for the purposes of observation, Cueball proposes blocking the light from all stars, for the purpose of making him feel comfortable with the night sky. Cueball feels, some might say irrationally, that "there are too many stars, and it's been freaking [him] out".

The title text refers to both a Type II Kardashev civilization and a Dyson sphere.

A Dyson sphere is a theoretical construction consisting of a network of satellites that orbit and completely surround a star. The purpose to capture and transmit all of the available solar energy back to a planet.

A Type II Kardashev civilization is a theoretical civilization that has advanced to the point where it has harnessed the energy radiated by its own star (for example, the stage of successful construction of a Dyson sphere).

For comparison purposes:

• A Type I Kardashev civilization is one that has harnessed the energy of their entire planet.
• A Type III Kardashev civilization is one that has harnessed the energy of their entire galaxy.
• We are currently less than I.

The title text reveals that Type II Kardashev civilizations construct Dyson spheres not for the purposes of capturing all solar energy, but merely to block the view of all that hideous space.

Transcript

[Cueball is giving a lecture in front of a white board, pointing to a diagram with a pointer.]

Cueball: The occulting observatory consists of two parts—the telescope and the discs.

When the telescope sees a star, a disc is carefully steered to block its light.

[A diagram of a satellite labeled "telescope" with waves going from it on the left, across to the other side of the diagram (labeled "light from star") on the right. In the middle is a small vertical line labeled "disc", stopping some of the light waves from the right traveling to the left of the diagram.]

This procedure is repeated until all stars are covered.

[Cueball looks down at a student.]

Student (off screen): Wait, all? Why?

Cueball: I'll feel better.

[Close-up on Cueball.]

Student (off-screen): I thought the point was to image extrasolar planets.

Cueball: The point is that there are too many stars. It's been freaking me out.

Student: What?

Student #2 (in smaller letters): He has a point...

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Discussion

A personal lesson I've learned long ago that I would like to share with Mr. XKCD and others: Don't worry about things you don't have direct control over, try to help people that do have control better understand the challenge they are facing and you will feel great with every accomplishment (similar to remembering to bring that reusable bag of yours to the store). If you don't know anyone with control, but feel you have a lesson to teach about the universe around us, put it in fiction form for future generations to learn from, and we will reward you with riches for it. - e-inspired 98.211.199.84 15:51, 27 February 2013 (UTC)

Wouldn't the disk covering the star reflect sunlight so the observer would end up with an EVEN BIGGER SPOT in the sky where the star used to be? 162.158.92.106 (talk) (please sign your comments with ~~~~)

I assume you're talking about light from our Sun and not light from the observed star. Of course the disc would be made of dark non-reflecting material, the opposite of a mirror. But even if it would be a mirror it reflects only in one direction. Put a (reflecting) coin in your hand far away as possible and aim to every point around you, even when you intent to see the reflection of the Sun by having it just behind you it's not easy to see it. And turn only a tick to the left you see nothing. BTW: Please sign your comments. --Dgbrt (talk) 19:17, 20 September 2018 (UTC)

I don't think that sending all the energy back of a star to ONE planet would be advisable... mostly due to the scale of energy likely destroying said planet(or if not making it uninhabitable(unless they are horribly inefficient)) or (using our system(the solar system(our original solar system(the one with the planet Earth)))) all of the planets in our solar system, although it could be used to increase the amount of energy received by those planets 162.158.154.241 19:13, 24 September 2018 (UTC) 20:14 , 24 September 2018