SIMBAD references

2019PASP..131h4401L - Publ. Astron. Soc. Pac., 131, part no 8, 4401-84401 (2019/August-0)

A shiny new method for SETI: specular reflections from interplanetary artifacts.

LACKI B.C.

Abstract (from CDS):

Glints of light from specular reflection of the Sun are a technosignature of artificial satellites. If extraterrestrial intelligences have left artifacts in the solar system, these may include flat mirror-like surfaces that also can glint. I describe the characteristics of the resulting flashes. An interplanetary mirror will appear illuminated for several hours, but if it is rotating, its glint may appear as a train of optical pulses. The resulting glints can be very bright, but they will be seen only if the mirror happens to reflect sunlight to Earth. The detection of large mirrors is limited mainly by the fraction oriented to reflect sunlight toward Earth. I give rough calculations for the expected reach of each exposure of Pan-STARRS1, LSST, and Evryscope for mirror glints. A single exposure of Pan-STARRS1 has an effective reach of 10–9–10–7 au3 for interplanetary mirrors with effective areas of 10 m2, depending on rotation rate. Over several years, Pan-STARRS1 might accumulate a reach ∼105 times greater than this, as it tiles the sky and different mirrors enter and exit a favorable geometry.

Abstract Copyright: © 2019. The Astronomical Society of the Pacific. All rights reserved.

Journal keyword(s):

Simbad objects: 2

goto Full paper

goto View the references in ADS

To bookmark this query, right click on this link: simbad:2019PASP..131h4401L and select 'bookmark this link' or equivalent in the popup menu