How to Move the Sun: Stellar Engines
Kurzgesagt – In a Nutshell・7 minutes read
Stellar engines like the Shkadov thruster and Caplan thruster could move the Sun and extend its life, enabling potential interstellar travel and colonization of other stars, offering hope for humanity beyond 12,019.
Insights
- Stellar engines like the Shkadov thruster and Caplan thruster propose innovative methods to move the Sun and potentially extend its lifespan, enabling interstellar travel and colonization of other stars.
- The concept of stellar engines opens up possibilities for civilizations to think in long-term scales, offering hope for a future where humanity can explore beyond the confines of the Milky Way and into the vast expanse of space.
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Recent questions
How do stellar engines move the Sun?
Stellar engines like the Shkadov thruster and Caplan thruster utilize different methods to move the Sun. The Shkadov thruster involves a giant mirror reflecting solar radiation to create thrust, while the Caplan thruster gathers matter from the Sun using a Dyson sphere to power nuclear fusion, shooting out fast jets of particles to push the Sun in the desired direction.
What is the purpose of a Dyson sphere?
A Dyson sphere is used in the Caplan thruster to gather matter from the Sun to power nuclear fusion. By surrounding the Sun with a Dyson sphere, civilizations can harness the Sun's energy and use it to propel the Sun forward, potentially extending its life and enabling interstellar travel.
How far can the Caplan thruster move the Sun?
The Caplan thruster has the capability to move the Sun by 50 light years in a million years. This movement not only extends the Sun's life but also opens up possibilities for the solar system to colonize other stars or even escape the Milky Way, offering a glimpse into the future of interstellar travel.
What is the significance of stellar engines for civilizations?
Stellar engines play a crucial role for civilizations thinking in eons by offering the potential for interstellar travel without facing the dangers of space. These engines, like the Shkadov thruster and Caplan thruster, provide hope for a future where humanity can explore beyond the confines of the Milky Way, leading to a promising future for civilization beyond the year 12,019.
How often does the Sun complete an orbit in the Milky Way?
The Sun completes an orbit around the galactic center of the Milky Way every 230 million years, maintaining a distance of around 30,000 light years. This movement is part of the vast cosmic dance of billions of stars orbiting the galactic center, showcasing the immense scale and complexity of our galaxy.
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Summary
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"Moving the Sun with Stellar Engines"
- In the Milky Way, billions of stars orbit the galactic center, with our Sun maintaining a distance of around 30,000 light years and completing an orbit every 230 million years.
- To move the solar system, a stellar engine is needed, like the Shkadov thruster, a giant mirror reflecting solar radiation to create thrust and push the Sun where desired.
- Another stellar engine, the Caplan thruster, gathers matter from the Sun using a Dyson sphere to power nuclear fusion, shooting out fast jets of particles to move the Sun along.
- The Caplan thruster can move the Sun by 50 light years in a million years, extending the Sun's life and potentially allowing the solar system to colonize other stars or even escape the Milky Way.
- Stellar engines are crucial for civilizations thinking in eons, offering the potential for interstellar travel without venturing into the dangers of space, leading to a hopeful future for humanity beyond the year 12,019.
