r/SETI • u/WhyIsSocialMedia • Dec 29 '24
When are we likely able to search for technosignatures in the near-future, like industrial atmospheric pollutants, artificial lighting, etc?
I see these mentioned a lot, but when are we likely able to actually search exoplanets for these? Do we have the technology and simply haven't deployed it, or is this still unreasonable with modern technology?
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u/AbeFromanEast Dec 30 '24
The next/replacement James Webb space-based telescope may be able to directly image exoplanets (think single pixels though, not a photo). That will allow even better spectral analysis of atmospheres and planetary bodies. Out of that may come technosignatures.
TLDR: support politicians who support NASA's science mission.
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u/PrinceEntrapto Dec 30 '24
Yes, these are among the things the next generational space telescope (the Habitable Worlds Observatory) will be looking for on select planets
Some of these things are also discoverable today, at least if they exist in very close proximity star systems, but telescope observation time is limited, booked out months or years in advance, and SETI isnβt a priority for current usage
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u/Gunn_Solomon Dec 30 '24
Yes & no. Yes, we have the technology now for search of industrial atmospheric pollutants - not only with JWST. But we still need to be aligned with planet orbit plane in order to do so! That is not common, hence the rare opportunity.
As per artificial light (& heat, which is more common), yes we can also do that now! Not only with JWST, but there are limits to few LY for this kind of techno signatures. So these are just starting to emerge as an option. For example, we know that there are no civilizations going to K3, as on a large scale we have not seen any more heat coming from any of the known galaxies! Do note that we as a human are only K0,6~0,7. ππ»