Editing 975: Occulting Telescope

{{comic
| number    = 975
| date      = November 09, 2011
| title     = Occulting Telescope
| image     = occulting_telescope.png
| titletext = Type II Kardashev civilizations eventually completely enclose their planetary system in a Dyson sphere because space is way too big to look at all the time.
}}

==Explanation==

[[File:Dyson Swarm.png|thumb|A relatively simple arrangement of multiple Dyson Rings of the type pictured above, to form a more complex Dyson Swarm. Rings' orbital radii are spaced 1.5 x 10^7 km with regard to one another, but average orbital radius is still 1 {{w|Astronomical unit|AU}}. Rings are rotated 15 degrees relative to one another, around a common axis of rotation. (from Wikipedia Commons)]]

[[Cueball]] takes the useful practice of {{w|occulting}} stars beyond its intended purpose. Occulting is used to block the light from a star under observation so that adjacent dim objects, such as any {{w|extrasolar planets|surrounding planets}}, might be more easily detected and examined. Instead of blocking the light of a single star for the purposes of observation, Cueball proposes blocking the light from all stars, for the purpose of making him feel comfortable with the night sky. Cueball feels, some might say irrationally, that "there are too many stars, and it's been ''freaking [him] out''".

The title text refers to both a {{w|Kardashev scale|Type II Kardashev civilization}} and a {{w|Dyson sphere}}.

A Dyson sphere is a theoretical construction consisting of a network of satellites that orbit and completely surround a star. The purpose to capture and transmit all of the available solar energy back to a planet.

A Type II Kardashev civilization is a theoretical civilization that has advanced to the point where it has harnessed the energy radiated by its own star (for example, the stage of successful construction of a Dyson sphere).

For comparison purposes:
*A Type I Kardashev civilization is one that has harnessed the energy of their entire planet.
*A Type III Kardashev civilization is one that has harnessed the energy of their entire galaxy.
*We are currently less than I.

The title text reveals that Type II Kardashev civilizations construct Dyson spheres not for the purposes of capturing all solar energy, but merely to block the view of all that hideous space.

==Transcript==
:[Cueball is giving a lecture in front of a white board, pointing to a diagram with a pointer.]
:Cueball: The occulting observatory consists of two parts—the telescope and the discs.

:When the telescope sees a star, a disc is carefully steered to block its light.
:[A diagram of a satellite labeled "telescope" with waves going from it on the left, across to the other side of the diagram (labeled "light from star") on the right. In the middle is a small vertical line labeled "disc", stopping some of the light waves from the right traveling to the left of the diagram.]
:This procedure is repeated until all stars are covered.

:[Cueball looks down at a student.]
:Student (off screen): Wait, all? Why?
:Cueball: I'll feel better.

:[Close-up on Cueball.]
:Student (off-screen): I thought the point was to image extrasolar planets.
:Cueball: The point is that there are ''too many stars.'' It's been freaking me out.
:Student: What?
:Student #2 (in smaller letters): He has a point...

{{comic discussion}}
[[Category:Comics featuring Cueball]]
[[Category:Astronomy]]
[[Category:Exoplanets]]