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auth@lemmy.ml to AskScience@lemmy.ml · 1 year ago

Bouncing radio signals off the sun possible?

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Bouncing radio signals off the sun possible?

auth@lemmy.ml to AskScience@lemmy.ml · 1 year ago
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  • 𝒎𝒂𝒏𝒊𝒆𝒍@lemmy.ml
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    1 year ago

    really doubt it, Sun’s surface is very turbulent mix of hot gasses, you’d need kinda flat surface to reflect anything readable, also Sun itself emits strong radio waves, guess those would interfere a lot with what you’d want to reflect

  • m_randall@sh.itjust.works
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    1 year ago

    Neat question. I’m a ham (amateur radio) and moon bounce is fairly common. Doing a bit of research I found one mention of people doing successful sun bounce but I haven’t found any details:

    https://www.sdarc.net/2011/03/31/amateurs-achieve-sun-bounce-on-23cm/

    So it looks like it’s possible but not practical or common.

    Amplifying? No not at all. These bounced signals are very weak on the way back.

    • auth@lemmy.mlOP
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      1 year ago

      thanks… I also got an ham license, not sure if it’s still valid though because I haven’t needed it in many years.

    • peto (he/him)@lemm.ee
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      1 year ago

      I’m not a radio (or I guess radar) guy, but a terawatt sounds like quite a lot of power, even if you are pulsing it.

  • Pacrat173@lemmy.ml
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    1 year ago

    Didn’t they do this in the 3 body problem? I Just finished the first book a few weeks ago

    • auth@lemmy.mlOP
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      1 year ago

      They did in the second episode of the TV show claiming that it would amplify the signal. (That’s what prompted me to ask the question, lol)

      • Num10ck@lemmy.world
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        1 year ago

        http://www.suntrek.org/sun-earth-connection/what-is-space-weather/space-weather-affect/radio-communication.shtml

        • auth@lemmy.mlOP
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          1 year ago

          Pretty sure that you need to shoot the radio signal at a low angle for it to be mostly reflected off the ionosphere

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