The nearest star is only 4 light years away. In terms of space, 4 light years is like how far you could spit. The universe itself is 13.6 billion years old. With inflation principles in effect, we are only able to observe objects up to 46 billion light years away.
4 light years VS. 46 billion light years. Yeah. Short short distance.
With current technology it would take us roughly 800 years to travel that 4 light years of distance. Assuming we perfect solar sails and ion engines. And assuming gravity from celestial objects wouldn't slow us down.
Every star is not a sun. Every sun is a star. Ours is unique due to the distance, luminosity, radiation, and size of it. Most stars can swallow a few thousands of our sun. Our sun is quite tiny. There is no proof every "sun" has at least 2 planets, but it is conceivable in theory. An interesting note is that some stars have partner stars swirling around each other at trillions of MPH. Sometimes, stars can eat other stars.
How many thousands of stars are there? Thousands? Really? The last time I heard, each small galaxy had a few hundred billion, to a few hundred trillion stars. And we for a fact know there are a few hundred billion galaxies. So a few thousand is shorting it massively.
Alone, in our galaxy aka "The Milk Way" (You can actually see it at night if the conditions are right. Its incredible) there are at least 50 billion stars with planets in the green zone. (capable of supporting life)
That said, your chances are 50/50 that if a planet did have life, it would be basic life (bacteria most likely, or maybe earliest of multi-cellulars) or they've had a few BILLION years of technology on us. mankind today has about 6000 years of steady technology now. So compare 6,000 to 1,000,000,000. Yeah, life exists outside of our planet.
With a bit of luck, and the proper equipment it would be possible to get there within 1000 years. The sail itself would allow us to break through our own solar system, and the ion would continue to accelerate (although at a steady rate) for the duration of the fuel on board to do so. Obviously this is using the best of current technology, and as far as I know, only 1 ion engine has ever been tested in space. Voyager has finally reached the out expanses of our solar system and had just crossed into "open space" using momentum and classic rockets. Ion technology would allow us to cover the same distance in a shorter period of time. Say 10 years, instead of 35. Because there is no "limit" (yes I am aware the closer things get to the speed of light the more energy they use) to the top speed of an ion, it would be a constant speed increase every second, of every year, for X amount of years.
Thats what I was basing my "within 800" years off of lol
I'm a nerd and not afraid to admit it. I'm just horribad at math. Hence why physics never interested me.
Of course, advances in technology would invariably make it easier to bend space, and take that 800 year journey, and smush down into a week or two. The only real downside of this bit, is having the replication technology, and gravity plating. Of course, replication technology would end all hunger, and poverty damn near overnight. Imagine a world without money /gasp. But obviously warp drives, replicators and gravity plating aren't within the realm of our current development.
Do you think aliens exist?
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Wow. Your scales are entirely off.
The nearest star is only 4 light years away. In terms of space, 4 light years is like how far you could spit. The universe itself is 13.6 billion years old. With inflation principles in effect, we are only able to observe objects up to 46 billion light years away.
4 light years VS. 46 billion light years. Yeah. Short short distance.
With current technology it would take us roughly 800 years to travel that 4 light years of distance. Assuming we perfect solar sails and ion engines. And assuming gravity from celestial objects wouldn't slow us down.
Every star is not a sun. Every sun is a star. Ours is unique due to the distance, luminosity, radiation, and size of it. Most stars can swallow a few thousands of our sun. Our sun is quite tiny. There is no proof every "sun" has at least 2 planets, but it is conceivable in theory. An interesting note is that some stars have partner stars swirling around each other at trillions of MPH. Sometimes, stars can eat other stars.
How many thousands of stars are there? Thousands? Really? The last time I heard, each small galaxy had a few hundred billion, to a few hundred trillion stars. And we for a fact know there are a few hundred billion galaxies. So a few thousand is shorting it massively.
Alone, in our galaxy aka "The Milk Way" (You can actually see it at night if the conditions are right. Its incredible) there are at least 50 billion stars with planets in the green zone. (capable of supporting life)
That said, your chances are 50/50 that if a planet did have life, it would be basic life (bacteria most likely, or maybe earliest of multi-cellulars) or they've had a few BILLION years of technology on us. mankind today has about 6000 years of steady technology now. So compare 6,000 to 1,000,000,000. Yeah, life exists outside of our planet.
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thinkingaboutit
11 years ago
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it would take 50,000 years to travel 4 light years w/ our fastest efforts . a light year is an obscenely long distance.
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Gelmurag
11 years ago
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With a bit of luck, and the proper equipment it would be possible to get there within 1000 years. The sail itself would allow us to break through our own solar system, and the ion would continue to accelerate (although at a steady rate) for the duration of the fuel on board to do so. Obviously this is using the best of current technology, and as far as I know, only 1 ion engine has ever been tested in space. Voyager has finally reached the out expanses of our solar system and had just crossed into "open space" using momentum and classic rockets. Ion technology would allow us to cover the same distance in a shorter period of time. Say 10 years, instead of 35. Because there is no "limit" (yes I am aware the closer things get to the speed of light the more energy they use) to the top speed of an ion, it would be a constant speed increase every second, of every year, for X amount of years.
Thats what I was basing my "within 800" years off of lol
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Bigmac69
11 years ago
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hm. I appreciate your interest in technology and science. :)
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Gelmurag
11 years ago
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I'm a nerd and not afraid to admit it. I'm just horribad at math. Hence why physics never interested me.
Of course, advances in technology would invariably make it easier to bend space, and take that 800 year journey, and smush down into a week or two. The only real downside of this bit, is having the replication technology, and gravity plating. Of course, replication technology would end all hunger, and poverty damn near overnight. Imagine a world without money /gasp. But obviously warp drives, replicators and gravity plating aren't within the realm of our current development.
4 light years meaning 4 years at the speed of light. If im right light can travel 7.5 times around the earth in a second
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thinkingaboutit
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how did you get 7.5?
I got 6.65x around the earth.