by Ray Norris
Austrailian National Telescope Facility
ABSTRACT
This paper considers the factors that determine the probable age of a civilisation that might be detected in a SETI search. Simple stellar evolution considerations suggest an age of a few Gyr. Supernovae and Gamma-ray-bursters could in principle shorten the lifetime of a civilisation, but the fact that life on Earth has survived for at least 4 Gyr places a severe constraint on such factors. If a civilisation is detected as a result of a SETI search, it is likely to be of order 1 Gyr more advanced than us.
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Full Story
http://www.setileague.org/articles/how_old.htm
Sir Ulli
Austrailian National Telescope Facility
ABSTRACT
This paper considers the factors that determine the probable age of a civilisation that might be detected in a SETI search. Simple stellar evolution considerations suggest an age of a few Gyr. Supernovae and Gamma-ray-bursters could in principle shorten the lifetime of a civilisation, but the fact that life on Earth has survived for at least 4 Gyr places a severe constraint on such factors. If a civilisation is detected as a result of a SETI search, it is likely to be of order 1 Gyr more advanced than us.
...
Full Story
http://www.setileague.org/articles/how_old.htm
Sir Ulli
