From the SpaceX Starlink megaconstellation to the search for Type-I civilizations

TL;DR

This paper explores the potential for Type-I civilizations to build planetary megastructures, using SpaceX's Starlink as a basis, and discusses how such structures might be detected via astronomical instruments like VLTI and FAST.

Contribution

It introduces a novel framework for detecting extraterrestrial megastructures by analyzing their emission patterns and spectral variability with existing telescopes.

Findings

VLTI can potentially observe emission patterns of megastructures

Spectral variability method is effective for detection

FAST telescope can play a role in identifying techno-signatures

Abstract

Here we extrapolate the idea of launching SpaceX's Starlink satellites and study the possibility of building planetary megastructures (either designed as solid objects or as a web of satellites) by Type-I civilizations and the consequent detection of their techno-signatures. We have shown that the instruments of The Very Large Telescope Interferometer (VLTI) can potentially observe emission pattern of the huge constructions. Efficiency of the spectral variability method has been emphasized and the role of the FAST telescope was discussed.