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Comment by Yetanfou | Hacker News Reader

A probe sent out by some remote civilisation, it is on its way through our part of the Milky Way galaxy. It used Sol as a source of gravity to slingshot itself on its way in the direction of Pegasus. It also did some measurements while it was at it, even though this system is not its final destination.

Yes, totally made up but in theory it would be possible.

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> okket: A remote civilisation that has no problem waiting hundred thousand years or longer for a probe to reach its destiny.

> pavlov: At 44 km/s, the object is travelling slightly faster than Pioneer 10. Seems too slow for an interstellar probe?

> QAPereo: A probe should show signs of acceleration, not freefall... unless you anted the probe to be stealthy. That is a disturbing thought.

Of course it has FTL, but they want to observe us for an extended period in our natural state, not riled up by an FTL object moving through our system and parking in orbit.

They also wanted to see how long it would take us to detect it. I'm not sure how well we did.

> I'm not sure how well we did.

Well it's already leaving again after it completed its maneuver around our sun, and we haven't even a proper telescope pointed at it yet...

Measurements detect no signs of FTL, Sol is noted as a good place for a future hyperspace bypass.

So, you would regard it as mostly harmless?

I believe the Guide just says "Harmless", maybe they'll add more info in the next revision.

Rendezvous with Rama?

Recall, those guys do everything in threes. Perhaps they'll even send three probes through our solar system.

>> A probe sent out by some remote civilisation, it is on its way through our part of the Milky Way galaxy. It used Sol as a source of gravity to slingshot itself on its way in the direction of Pegasus.

I found it interesting that the first such object observed passed inside the orbit of Mercury. Is there some physics based reason that would be likely or was it a fluke?

There's no physical reason why it might be more likely for an interstellar object to cross the ecliptic near the sun. But an object which does so closely enough for solar gravity to yank it into a second crossing might well be more likely to get noticed, especially when its modified trajectory brings it as close to Earth as this one came.

It's broadcasting something that sounds like ... humpback whales?

Luckily we still have some of those in this timeline.

Does that mean we live in the JJ Abrams timeline? I think I'd rather be in the mirror universe.

No. The Abrams timeline diverges in the mid-23nd century; humpback whales went extinct in the 21st.

At 44 km/s, the object is travelling slightly faster than Pioneer 10. Seems too slow for an interstellar probe?

If you're not made of meat, just put yourself into a sleep state for a few hundred thousand years. This could just be the Krang looking for a good place to have a summer holiday ("Hmmm, too much oxygen. Let's try the next exit, dear.")

A probe should show signs of acceleration, not freefall... unless you wanted the probe to be stealthy. That is a disturbing thought.

Just make sure you aim to miss all of the planets around it ;)

And that you are far away from Sol to not burn on it

It's an interesting concept to think about

A remote civilisation that has no problem waiting hundred thousand years or longer for a probe to reach its destiny.

Does this civilization do things in threes? Three-legged creatures, etc.?

Probably the Idirans

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