THE KARDASHEV CIVILISATION SCALE

INTRODUCTION

The Kardashev scale is a method of measuring a civilization's level of technological advancement based on the amount of energy it is capable of harnessing and using. The measure was proposed by Soviet astronomer Nikolai Kardashev in 1964 and was named after him.

DEFINITION

Kardashev divided civilisations into three groups according to the amount of energy they were using: types I, II and III.

Type I civilisation

A civilisation that is capable of harnessing all the power available on a single planet - its home environment.

A civilisation that is capable of harnessing all the power available from a single star, considered the star at the centre of its system.

Type III civilisation

A civilisation that is capable of harnessing all the available power of a single galaxy.

Australian Space Academy