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Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!burl!ulysses!gamma!epsilon!zeta!sabre!petrus!bellcore!decvax!decwrl!pyramid!hplabs!qantel!ptsfa!gilbbs!mc68020
From: mc68020@gilbbs.UUCP (Tom Keller)
Newsgroups: net.space
Subject: Re: where are the aliens headed??
Message-ID: <123@gilbbs.UUCP>
Date: Wed, 26-Mar-86 22:27:16 EST
Article-I.D.: gilbbs.123
Posted: Wed Mar 26 22:27:16 1986
Date-Received: Sat, 29-Mar-86 05:41:52 EST
References: <8603210822.AA02367@s1-b.arpa> <12519@ucbvax.BERKELEY.EDU>
Organization: Gil's Place, Santa Rosa CA
Lines: 42
Summary: light speed seems to be the argument against meeting aliens on a similar or higher level of technology


   I wish to open this discussion by pointing out that I personally would
very much like to meet intelligent aliens.  I think it would be a wonderful
adventure, though I confess that the prospect does frighten me at the same 
time.

   I do not, however, *EXPECT* to meet any intelligent aliens.  The reason
is really quite simple:

   If we assume for the sake of argument that the speed of light is in fact
a velocity beyond which we cannot accelerate a mass, and that an intelligent
alien lifeform would most probably have developed some form of electromagnetic
communications, we come to the inescapable conclusion that we won't be running
into them for a **VERY** long while, even if they *DO* exist (oh, I *HOPE*
they do!).

   Presumably, either they would have detected our emissions, and started on
an exploratory expedition sometime in the past 100 years or so, or we would be
detecting their emissions.  The fact that we are not detecting such emissions
argues that if such emissions were there, the source must be a considerable
distance from us ( I would argue at least 50-100 lightyears).  

   Even assuming that a startdrive which achieves a significant percentage
of lightspeed is available, this implies that it would require anywhere from
150 to 600 years, minimum, for them to travel here.  Likewise for us to travel
there.

   Thus, I predict that *IF* we find intelligent life in the universe, it will
likely be *VERY* far into our future, and ***VERY VERY*** far away.

   I think this is a pity, but it does seem inescapable.

-- 

====================================

Disclaimer:  I hereby disclaim any and all responsibility for disclaimers.

tom keller
{ihnp4, dual}!ptsfa!gilbbs!mc68020

(* we may not be big, but we're small! *)