• millie@beehaw.org
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    4 months ago

    The title here is a little misleading. A signal that repeated once per hour, as in 60 minutes, would be pretty astounding, and might be a good way for a civilization with enough information about us to say ‘hi’ in a way we’d recognize. It would certainly be very strange to see a natural phenomenon ticking away the hours at a precise rate.

    53.8 minutes, on the other hand, is a bit less attention grabbing.

    • Melody Fwygon@lemmy.one
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      4 months ago

      I’d argue that a more precise timing like 53.8 minutes is more attention grabbing. It shows finer grained control of technology; a “look here! we can do this too!” sort of demonstration.

      If we are the “more advanced” neighbor; then I could see that being done.

      • Kissaki@beehaw.org
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        4 months ago

        Such a cycle is a cycle like any other. It’s not “more precise” when it’s shorter.

        We attribute the 53.8 according to our scale.