What is a Dyson sphere?

Question

What is a Dyson sphere?

Answer 1

A Dyson Sphere is a gigantic metal habitat built around a sun. The idea was conceived by Freeman Dyson (with inspiration from other sci-fi authors). A sphere's radius would be equal to the orbital distance of the race's home planet (or an equivalent distance based on the sun's output) so that once the sphere is completed, it will receive an appropriate distribution of energy so that the species can live comfortably on the interior surface.

One, the species inhabiting the sphere can theoretically use 100% of their sun's power, and two, the sphere's inner surface provides an enormous habitable area for, potentially, an entire species.

Answer 2

If it's a real thing outside of star trek, not sure about that.

From what I understand, it's like a reverse planet, with the "Sun" power source in the middle, and people live on the inside of the outer wall, something like that.

Better have Engineer Scotty with you, if you want to make it outside those malfunctory doors!

Answer 3

think "Death Star" made around a real star.

No relation.

Answer 4

It is a concept invented by Freeman Dyson.  It is a huge hollow sphere constructed around a star that will capture all of the sun's energy and also support a huge population.  There are a few problems with this model, however.  One is that there will be no gravity on the inner surface, no matter how massive you make the shell, because the inside of hollow sphere is a gravitationally null zone.  Also, there is nothing to keep the sun centered in the middle of the sphere, so over time it will drift and collide wth the sphere wall itself.

Answer 5

I personally thought it was the little ball thing on the bottom of the new Dyson vaccuum cleaner, interestingly enough, named the Dyson Sphere. But since this is in astronomy, Im going to have to google this one!

Ok, thanks to my best friend Wiki, I now know that the Dyson Sphere is a hypothetical megastructure apparently representing a system of orbiting satellites that are able to encompass a star and capture it's energy output as part of some futuristic power collection. If a structure like this were to be found it would prove the existence of other intelligent beings in our universe.

This Dyson fella had a wonderful imagination!

Answer 6

It was from an episode of Star Trek. It is a massive sphere that encapsulates a star and harnesses its power for use.