# The KIC 8462852 alien megastructure **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [February 27, 2021, 1:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-kic-8462852-alien-megastructure/933862 "2021-02-27T01:37:16Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![EastUmpqua](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eastumpqua/32/6025_2.png) [@EastUmpqua](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EastUmpqua)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2021, 1:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-kic-8462852-alien-megastructure/933862/1 "2021-02-27T01:37:16Z")
I think it’s interesting that the alien-megastructure hypothesis has been ruled out because an alien megastructure would dim all EM wavelengths equally, so it must be dust (to explain the lower IR absorption). Like how would anyone know which wavelengths an alien megastructure would block? ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2021, 1:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-kic-8462852-alien-megastructure/933862/2 "2021-02-27T01:41:01Z")
One would assume, at least, that an alien megastructure would be larger than dust grains. ---
**Author:** ![EastUmpqua](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eastumpqua/32/6025_2.png) [@EastUmpqua](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EastUmpqua)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2021, 1:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-kic-8462852-alien-megastructure/933862/3 "2021-02-27T01:51:36Z")
An alien megastructure also might want to let some IR pass through it so it doesn’t heat up too much and kill its inhabitants. Especially around an F-type main-sequence star. I’m not saying it is an alien megastructure, but the evidence against it seems sketchy. ---
**Author:** ![Galactus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/galactus/32/3581_2.png) [@Galactus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Galactus)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2021, 2:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-kic-8462852-alien-megastructure/933862/4 "2021-02-27T02:59:35Z")
Couldn’t it be a Dyson Swarm? ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2021, 3:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-kic-8462852-alien-megastructure/933862/5 "2021-02-27T03:02:16Z")
Am I the only one who has no clue what the “KIC 8462852 alien megastructure” is? ---
**Author:** ![Euphonious\_Polemic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/euphonious_polemic/32/3002_2.png) [@Euphonious\_Polemic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Euphonious_Polemic)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2021, 3:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-kic-8462852-alien-megastructure/933862/6 "2021-02-27T03:04:12Z")
No. You are normal. ---
**Author:** ![Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/13edae/32.png) [@Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stranger_On_A_Train)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2021, 3:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-kic-8462852-alien-megastructure/933862/7 "2021-02-27T03:31:41Z")
> [@Dewey\_Finn](#): > > Am I the only one who has no clue what the “KIC 8462852 alien megastructure” is? > **[The Mysterious Star KIC 8462852](https://www.seti.org/seti-institute/mysterious-star-kic-8462852)** > > The SETI Institute is following up on the possibility that the stellar system KIC 8462852 might be home to an advanced civilization. This star, slightly brighter than the Sun and more than 1400 light-years away, has been the subject of scrutiny by... > [@Chronos](#): > > One would assume, at least, that an alien megastructure would be larger than dust grains. I don’t know that such an assumption is valid. Of course we make solid discrete structures because of the limitations of our ability to maintain their configuration, but an advanced civilization may well build large “structures” out of fine materials capable of maintaining and altering configuration through fine control of electromagnetic forces. It certainly makes far more sense that a massive swarm of larger orbiting bodies that are going to be pushed by stellar particle ‘wind’ and influenced by each others gravity to become rapidly chaotic. However, the odds are very likely that this is just a naturally occurring phenomenon. Until we see something that looks like a coherent signal or deliberate motion, ‘assuming’ the likelihood of it being an alien megastructure (to what purpose?) is nothing more than hopeful pleading. Stranger ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2021, 3:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-kic-8462852-alien-megastructure/933862/8 "2021-02-27T03:39:19Z")
I see. So the OP assumes I remember something that was in the news almost three years ago. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_other_waldo_pepper/32/12370_2.png) [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Other_Waldo_Pepper)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2021, 3:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-kic-8462852-alien-megastructure/933862/9 "2021-02-27T03:42:31Z")
I guess you could say it seems like KICs just keep getting harder to find. ---
**Author:** ![markn\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f9ae1b/32.png) [@markn\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/markn_1)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2021, 8:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-kic-8462852-alien-megastructure/933862/10 "2021-02-27T20:05:32Z")
You can get them on Route 66. ---
**Author:** ![mikecurtis](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mikecurtis/32/3284_2.png) [@mikecurtis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mikecurtis)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2021, 8:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-kic-8462852-alien-megastructure/933862/11 "2021-02-27T20:49:51Z")
No. Most of us assume that not everybody will be interested in every topic. Those that know what it is and are interested can participate in the conversation. Those that don’t know but are curious can ask thoughtful questions. There’s no need for condescension. ---
**Author:** ![Munch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/munch/32/5281_2.png) [@Munch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Munch)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2021, 9:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-kic-8462852-alien-megastructure/933862/12 "2021-02-27T21:21:37Z")
> [@Dewey\_Finn](#): > > So the OP assumes I remember something that was in the news almost three years ago. No. They assume the reader is either a) already familiar with it, b) curious enough about it to conduct a simple Google search, c) curious enough about it ask or d) indifferent enough to ignore it and move on to one of the other 100,000 threads on the board. Guess you’re in Group E. ---
**Author:** ![EastUmpqua](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eastumpqua/32/6025_2.png) [@EastUmpqua](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EastUmpqua)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2021, 9:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-kic-8462852-alien-megastructure/933862/13 "2021-02-27T21:29:20Z")
> [@Dewey\_Finn](#): > > I see. So the OP assumes I remember something that was in the news almost three years ago. I took this as humor. I can’t remember what I cooked for dinner 3 days ago. If I’m supposed to be offended, let me know. ---
**Author:** ![EastUmpqua](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eastumpqua/32/6025_2.png) [@EastUmpqua](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EastUmpqua)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2021, 10:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-kic-8462852-alien-megastructure/933862/14 "2021-03-20T22:10:46Z")
> [@Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](#): > > I don’t know that such an assumption is valid. Of course we make solid discrete structures because of the limitations of our ability to maintain their configuration, but an advanced civilization may well build large “structures” out of fine materials capable of maintaining and altering configuration through fine control of electromagnetic forces. It certainly makes far more sense that a massive swarm of larger orbiting bodies that are going to be pushed by stellar particle ‘wind’ and influenced by each others gravity to become rapidly chaotic. You have articulated an idea in my own mind better than I could have. I admire your intellect. ---
**Author:** ![EastUmpqua](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eastumpqua/32/6025_2.png) [@EastUmpqua](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EastUmpqua)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2021, 8:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-kic-8462852-alien-megastructure/933862/15 "2021-12-30T20:34:31Z")
It looks like there’s a cluster of unusual star-dimming events near KIC 8462852. Almost like an interstellar civilization. > **[‘Alien megastructure’ star may not be alone](https://www.news.com.au/technology/science/space/alien-megastructure-star-may-not-be-alone/news-story/20cea4a4bfe406d9507e1d5605b599d4)** > > They’re back! Speculation that a strangely pulsing star may have unnatural origins flared in 2015. Now a new survey has revealed it’s not alone. And they’re all oddly clustered together. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2021, 8:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-kic-8462852-alien-megastructure/933862/16 "2021-12-30T20:46:06Z")
Or almost like the nebula that all of those stars coalesced out of was particularly dusty. ---
**Author:** ![EastUmpqua](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eastumpqua/32/6025_2.png) [@EastUmpqua](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EastUmpqua)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2021, 9:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-kic-8462852-alien-megastructure/933862/17 "2021-12-30T21:05:03Z")
An anomalously dusty ancient star-forming nebula, or an interstellar techno-signature, which is way more fun. It’ll be interesting to see what James Webb has to say. ---
**Author:** ![Darren\_Garrison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darren_garrison/32/92_2.png) [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2021, 3:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-kic-8462852-alien-megastructure/933862/18 "2021-12-31T03:42:12Z")
> [@EastUmpqua](#): > > It’ll be interesting to see what James Webb has to say. “The aliens have resurrection technology and have chosen me for their spokesman!” ---
**Author:** ![Galactus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/galactus/32/3581_2.png) [@Galactus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Galactus)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2021, 3:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-kic-8462852-alien-megastructure/933862/19 "2021-12-31T03:59:22Z")
OK, OK. It was me. Shitter was full. ---
**Author:** ![EastUmpqua](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eastumpqua/32/6025_2.png) [@EastUmpqua](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EastUmpqua)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2022, 12:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-kic-8462852-alien-megastructure/933862/20 "2022-01-01T00:24:39Z")
KIC 8462582 might turn out more interesting than you think after JWST looks at it. I recommend you just stay on the shitter… [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-kic-8462852-alien-megastructure/933862.md?page=2)