Alien-hunters are calling for messages to be broadcast directly into space to tell ET that we are here. But others are urging caution, saying it could be dangerous to reveal our existence to other civilisations. Read more
Aliens spying on us from another star system might be able to discern continents and oceans on our planet, using technology barely more advanced than our own. In imaginary form, these inquisitive extraterrestrials have been helping astronomers work out how much detail the next generation of space telescopes could reveal on Earth-like planets orbiting other stars. Seeing any detail at all is a tough task. Even at the distance of the nearest stars, only a few light years away, terrestrial planets would appear so small that no planned telescope could see any detail directly. Even NASA's Terrestrial Planet Finder, a flotilla of large space telescopes that could be launched within a decade, would see Earth as a featureless point.
Owing to radio's aptitude in transporting information, our planet is endlessly peppered by man-made low-frequency radiation. Phone conversations, computer data, text messages, radar echoes, sitcoms, and morning DJ chatter are all electromagnetically belched in every direction at the speed of light including straight up into outer space. Even if the universe is thick with signal-slinging civilizations, including some old enough that their indiscriminate electromagnetism has had sufficient time to reach Earth, not even the most massive and sensitive equipment of science is currently capable of plucking the signal from the static.
Japanese Astronomers to decide what to do when E.T. calls Domestic astronomers will gather early next month to discuss which institution people should report to should they detect signals from aliens as part of the Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence (SETI). The International Astronomical Union has prescribed that those detecting such signals should first report to an institution connected with the SETI and national authorities. In Japan, however, it has not been settled whether this body should be the National Astronomical Observatory of Japan, the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, or the Prime Minister's Office. More than 30 domestic SETI researchers will gather at the study meeting to be held at Hyogo prefectural Nishi-Harima Astronomical Observatory on Nov. 4. They decided to meet because although signals have not yet been detected, they believe "the time is nigh."
Want to help unravel the mysteries of the universe? A new distributed computing project designed by a University of Illinois researcher allows people around the world to participate in cutting-edge cosmology research by donating their unused computing cycles. The project is called Cosmology@Home, and is similar to SETI@Home, a popular program that searches radio telescope data for evidence of extraterrestrial transmissions.
Fine-tuning the search for intelligent life in the deepest corners of space depends on a very terrestrial matter -- money. To add an additional 308 radio dish telescopes to the array of 42 now scanning the sky for images of distant galaxies and possibly a signal from ET, the cooperative running the Allen Telescope Array at Hat Creek needs to find $41 million, those working on the project say.
The first radio telescope dedicated to the search for extraterrestrial intelligence (SETI) has formally started operations. The first phase of the Allen Telescope Array, a collection of radio telescopes being built near Hat Creek, California, US, has begun functioning with 42 radio antennas. When complete, the ATA will have 350 dishes, each about 6 metres wide. Until now, the SETI project has relied on time borrowed from instruments like the Arecibo radio telescope in Puerto Rico, and has had little control over the extent and nature of the observations.