Thread: 200 light years away would current tech detect human civilization

If we teleported current radio telescopes 200 light years away and 200 years in the future, and pointed the telescope towards our solar system, effectively scanning activity and emissions from today's earth (2014), would we detect a pattern (24h cycle) or would the equipment have trouble detecting the pattern due to the range/distance/interference ?

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Originally Posted by icewendigo

If we teleported current radio telescopes 200 light years away and 200 years in the future, and pointed the telescope towards our solar system, effectively scanning activity and emissions from today's earth (2014), would we detect a pattern (24h cycle) or would the equipment have trouble detecting the pattern due to the range/distance/interference ?

Yes, we'd almost certainly be able to detect the more powerful signals (radar primarily) with a radiotelescope as sensitive as, say, Arecibo, using a 1 kilometer antenna. Military radars would be detectable out to almost 100,000 light-years.

That, of course, is only true if you are looking for it.