Astronomical engineering

Not to be confused with astronautical engineering or with engineering of astronomical instruments.

Engineering on an astronomical scale, or astronomical engineering, i.e., engineering involving operations with whole astronomical objects (planets, stars, etc.), is a known theme in science fiction, as well as a matter of recent scientific research and exploratory engineering.[1]

On the Kardashev scale, Type II and Type III civilizations can harness energy on the required scale.[2][3] This can allow them to construct megastructures.

  1. ^ Adams, Fred (2003). "Astronomical Engineering". Origins of Existence: How Life Emerged in the Universe. The Free Press. p. 153. ISBN 978-1-4391-3820-5.
  2. ^ Dyson, Freeman J. (1966). Marshak, R. E. (ed.). "The Search for Extraterrestrial Technology". Perspectives in Modern Physics. New York: John Wiley & Sons.
  3. ^ Kardashev, Nikolai. "On the Inevitability and the Possible Structures of Supercivilizations", The search for extraterrestrial life: Recent developments; Proceedings of the Symposium, Boston, MA, June 18–21, 1984 (A86-38126 17-88). Dordrecht, D. Reidel Publishing Co., 1985, p. 497–504.