2006-08-30 10:25:32 · 12 answers · asked by pelister56 4 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Astronomy & Space
Yeah... as long as they come to visit us! (I assume you are talking about an alien civilization as opposed to just a different human civilization such as, oh say, the traditional Inuit, because all you need to encounter them is an airplane, a skidoo, and a good guide).
2006-08-30 10:32:09 · answer #1 · answered by Blah Blah Blah 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It depends on what you mean by "encounter". We can receive communications from another civilization with our present technology. We can even travel to other stars with our present technology, but the time involved makes it impractical.
It is also possible that another civilization might drop by for a visit. But that isn't very likely to happen anytime soon.
The answer to your question is yes. It is possible, but highly improbable.
2006-08-30 11:09:34 · answer #2 · answered by sparc77 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If your question is "a civilisation that is not known yet" - then we can use present technology, history, archaelogy...to discover past civilisations of humans. We can also study civilisations of non human beings - for example bird or ant societies.
The term of civilsation is vast - being a system of individual organisms that are organised in such way to survive and adapt better to the environment by joining their individual resources. Therefore yes.
If your question is limited to a civilisation outside of earth, i believe it is possible, if that other civilisation is so well developed so close that it can emit signals we can capt. Unless that civilisation has malicioius intentions with earth, and that it is wishing to come closer without being detected.
So i would say yes it is possible to detect another civilisation, but it is also possible that there is another civilisation and we do not detect it.
2006-08-30 11:16:29 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes. The Arecibo radiotelescope (largest in world) is capable of communicating with a similar instrument anywhere in the galaxy. The catch is they must be pointed in precisely the right directions at precisely the right times, and transmitting/receiving the same frequency with the same bandwidth. That's why the search is expected to take so long, even if the galaxy is teaming with like-minded intelligence. By like-minded, I mean techologically curious (as opposed to superintelligent bags of protoplasm that ponder their navels in mindboggling depth).
2006-08-30 15:44:48 · answer #4 · answered by Dr. R 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If your asking from an evolutionary viewpoint it would be incrediblely rare that even a lifeform would develop, let alone anything remotely recognizeable to us.
A civilization with our present technology. No way.
2006-08-30 15:08:22 · answer #5 · answered by simon 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
if you encounter as we go to them, then no, because the nearest sun-planet system we know which might harbor life (since in solar system, we the only civilization) is light years away, too far for us to travel there.
2006-08-30 11:19:58 · answer #6 · answered by Man 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Check out this website to get some answers:
http://www.seti.org
SETI (the Search for Extra Terrestrial Intelligence)
2006-08-30 10:40:45 · answer #7 · answered by Faulk 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Right now that's only possible in two ways.
We search the sky and "listen" for them with radio telescopes (programs like SETI),or we wait for them to come to us.
2006-08-30 11:09:55 · answer #8 · answered by Danny 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Of course. Just get yourself on a plane!!
I doubt that we would be able to go out and meet them. They would have to come to us, but we could show them the way.
2006-08-30 10:32:44 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
yup. im another civilization and i encounter you barbarians all the time. i wish you would leave me alone.
2006-08-30 12:23:56 · answer #10 · answered by Stand-up Philosopher 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋