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2017-12-13 -Short Attention Span Theater-
Plan 9 From Outer Space
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Posted by Deacon Blues 2017-12-13 00:00|| || Front Page|| [11128 views ]  Top

#1 Good, private sector.
Our tax funded, gov audited, lifer admins managed crack NEO monitoring team didn’t notice until it passed.
Posted by Skidmark 2017-12-13 01:12||   2017-12-13 01:12|| Front Page Top

#2 I suspect that if this is an interstellar alien spacecraft or probe, from a civilization advanced enough to produce it, then they would probably be somewhat beyond 'radio' for communications.

Quantum Entangled Particle or Superluminal communication concepts (both theoretical and both having constraints, based on what we know), or something else entirely, might be utilized.

Still, keep listening.
Posted by Mullah Richard 2017-12-13 07:40||   2017-12-13 07:40|| Front Page Top

#3 Does it make whale sounds?

If it does, I've seen this movie.
Posted by AlanC 2017-12-13 08:03||   2017-12-13 08:03|| Front Page Top

#4 Took a slingshot path. What are the odds?
Posted by Woodrow 2017-12-13 08:40||   2017-12-13 08:40|| Front Page Top

#5 Perhaps we're under observation.
Posted by Besoeker 2017-12-13 08:43||   2017-12-13 08:43|| Front Page Top

#6 Richard Stanton T. Friedman feels the same way about SETI.

Shades of Arthur C. Clarke's "Rendezvous with Rama".
Posted by Woodrow 2017-12-13 08:44||   2017-12-13 08:44|| Front Page Top

#7 I hope they discover some redemptive value, but I'm not at all optimistic.
Posted by Besoeker 2017-12-13 08:47||   2017-12-13 08:47|| Front Page Top

#8 "Professor Loeb said the space rock's peculiar elongated shape is odd for a common space rock but ideal for a ship flying between star systems."

First, I don't believe the correct word is "flying."

Second, in the vacuum of space where induced drag approximates zilch, shape, aside of accommodating pax and payload, means little.

Is the rock rotating about an axis? If so, you have my interest.
Posted by Vast Right Wing Conspiracy 2017-12-13 08:56||   2017-12-13 08:56|| Front Page Top

#9 Second, in the vacuum of space where induced drag approximates zilch

That's only true for low speeds.
Posted by g(r)omgoru 2017-12-13 09:53||   2017-12-13 09:53|| Front Page Top

#10 Even at speeds exceeding the speed of light, the object, if intelligent in origin, is several million years old and most likely the civilization of origin has moved on or expired.

Space is vast and the distances are almost beyond comprehension. If a civilization were scanning our planet, they would be seeing dinosaurs not cities.
Posted by Sock Puppet of Doom 2017-12-13 10:28||   2017-12-13 10:28|| Front Page Top

#11 I seem to remember a Shuttle experiment that involved deploying a rather long cable (here it is).

The 'odd' shape, in motion, reminded me of that.
Posted by Skidmark 2017-12-13 10:48||   2017-12-13 10:48|| Front Page Top

#12 Rendezvous with Rama, really enjoyed that book.
Posted by swksvolFF 2017-12-13 10:55||   2017-12-13 10:55|| Front Page Top

#13 Even at speeds exceeding the speed of light

Exceeding by how much? You're not a SF fan, SPOD.
Posted by g(r)omgoru 2017-12-13 11:25||   2017-12-13 11:25|| Front Page Top

#14 Is this the year to test our warp drive systems for the first time? Mr. Cochran, we turn our lonely eyes to you!
Posted by Raj 2017-12-13 12:02||   2017-12-13 12:02|| Front Page Top

#15 If I were an Alien, My space ship would not look like a rock; it would be the cover feature for the forthcoming issue of
'Better Homes and Hangars.'
Posted by USN, Ret. 2017-12-13 12:59||   2017-12-13 12:59|| Front Page Top

#16 If it is as old as I think it is, the erosion from space dust would change it from a sparkling example of home world technology into a corroded eroded thing such as we have here.

As for exceeding the speed of light? Heck I don't know, I just know that once you get to about 0.9C things get very weird and beyond that it is all theoretical...go read Einstein he might illuminate you.

I was just saying the nearest likely suspects for intelligent life are so far away this thing if intelligent in origin is extremely old (see dinosaurs).
Posted by Sock Puppet of Doom 2017-12-13 13:40||   2017-12-13 13:40|| Front Page Top

#17 A big, pink cylindrical object? Sounds like a Giant Space Pen1s to me. Maybe the aliens are trying to tell us something.
Posted by SteveS 2017-12-13 13:52||   2017-12-13 13:52|| Front Page Top

#18 #17 A big, pink cylindrical object? Sounds like a Giant Space Pen1s to me.

Hillary Clinton in Ghostbusters: "Choose the fate of your Destructor"
Posted by Frank G 2017-12-13 14:41||   2017-12-13 14:41|| Front Page Top

#19 A team of alien-hunting scientists, led by Russian billionaire Yuri Milner Cheech & Chong.
Posted by gorb 2017-12-13 15:24||   2017-12-13 15:24|| Front Page Top

#20 They are not a problem to you.
But I strongly suggest you leave them alone.

Very friendly and saves your asses on occasion.
Posted by newc 2017-12-13 15:27||   2017-12-13 15:27|| Front Page Top

#21 A big, pink cylindrical object? Sounds like a Giant Space Pen1s to me.

So...Papa Oumaumau, or Navy Aviator call sign?
Posted by swksvolFF 2017-12-13 16:06||   2017-12-13 16:06|| Front Page Top

#22 After seeing our mainstream media the past few months, the aliens are saying "No intelligent life detected, keep going".

So without a course change, either there is no intelligent life on it, or else its far too intelligent for us.
Posted by Injun Bucket8891 2017-12-13 16:14||   2017-12-13 16:14|| Front Page Top

#23 That's only true for low speeds.

Yeah? Tell that to the Borg. ;^)
Posted by AlanC 2017-12-13 16:56||   2017-12-13 16:56|| Front Page Top

#24 It's all relative ya know.
Posted by Alaska Paul 2017-12-13 18:11||   2017-12-13 18:11|| Front Page Top

#25 With all the stupid sitcoms and broadcasts and news we spew out in to space every day we better hope no spacefaring race finds us and decides the've had enough of our crap...
Posted by CrazyFool 2017-12-13 19:46||   2017-12-13 19:46|| Front Page Top

#26 Just have to include this!

Posted by CrazyFool 2017-12-13 19:49||   2017-12-13 19:49|| Front Page Top

#27 I would not be surprised if extrasolar objects pass through the solar system fairly frequ3ntly, our not seeing them is a function of not looking in the right place and most times they are passing a lot farther out. But if this object is artificial it sure is an instellar slowpoke
Posted by Cheaderhead 2017-12-13 22:18||   2017-12-13 22:18|| Front Page Top

#28 Long ago I read of plans for hollowing out an asteroid to make an interstellar spacecraft. The idea would be the rock itself could provide a lot of protection from space debris and radiation.
Posted by rjschwarz 2017-12-13 22:51||   2017-12-13 22:51|| Front Page Top

23:30 JohnQC
23:01 JohnQC
22:51 rjschwarz
22:18 Cheaderhead
22:03 Frank G
21:18 trailing wife
21:10 trailing wife
20:58 Sock Puppet of Doom
20:46 Sock Puppet of Doom
20:08 Cheaderhead
19:49 CrazyFool
19:46 CrazyFool
18:46 Seeking cure for ignorance
18:30 Injun Bucket8891
18:28 Injun Bucket8891
18:11 Alaska Paul
18:05 Alaska Paul
17:14 AlanC
17:03 Lemuel Johnson6047
16:56 AlanC
16:49 Vast Right Wing Conspiracy
16:44 AlanC
16:44 james
16:42 Bigfoot Elmerenter4120









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