Existing laser tech could be used for “porch light” to attract alien astronomers

Re:Existing laser tech could be used for “porch light” to at... by eloff on Tuesday November 06, 2018 @08:15PM (#18396403)

This seems to me like shining a laser pointer randomly up into the sky and hoping someone from a passing plane sees it?

Is this practical given the vastness of space and the directionaality of this laser?

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Re:Existing laser tech could be used for “porch light” to at... by Johnny555 on Tuesday November 06, 2018 @08:24PM (#18396449)

Let's hope that there are no interstellar laws against shining lasers at other star systems.

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Re:Existing laser tech could be used for “porch light” to at... by maxxxxx on Tuesday November 06, 2018 @08:31PM (#18396482)

The Vogons may come by and destroy Earth.

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Re:Existing laser tech could be used for “porch light” to at... by ridgeguy on Tuesday November 06, 2018 @09:08PM (#18396647)

I'll knowingly violate HN's rules to say that's a Vogon conclusion.

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Re:Existing laser tech could be used for “porch light” to at... by angry_octet on Tuesday November 06, 2018 @10:13PM (#18396859)

Is there a rule against humour? Or puns? I thought it was just a sect of users who are also Wikipedia editors.

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Re:Existing laser tech could be used for “porch light” to at... by richardbdrowley on Tuesday November 06, 2018 @10:24PM (#18396896)

There is a rule against anything that doesn't make Sam Altman richer or more acutely aware of the startup landscape.

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Re:Existing laser tech could be used for “porch light” to at... by joezydeco on Tuesday November 06, 2018 @08:21PM (#18396430)

Well not just a plane passing overhead, a plane passing overhead 200 years from now.

Maybe we should be aiming the big laser at Oumuamua. With a big HEY COME BACK HERE message.

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Re:Existing laser tech could be used for “porch light” to at... by rdtsc on Tuesday November 06, 2018 @10:45PM (#18396957)

I've wondered if that was the purpose of the "probe". To see if anyone follows it, or otherwise interacts with it. Let's say you know there is a habitable planet, but you don't want to land there first, instead send a probe and see if the planet reacts to it. If they do, it would indicate a rather advanced civilization.

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