Plot of point source fits to the ‘Oumuamua position at 100 kHz intervals from 1-10 GHz
Image credit: Harp et al, doi: 10.1016/j.actaastro.2018.10.046
Posted on 12/09/2018 9:53:48 AM PST by ETL
Following its discovery in October 2017, ‘Oumuamua was the subject of popular speculation about a possible non-natural origin.
Its highly elongated shape and the fact that no coma was observed strengthened this hypothesis for some, as these are uncharacteristic of asteroids and comets.
A recent paper by Harvard Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics researchers Dr. Shmuel Bialy and Professor Abraham Loeb has also suggested the possibility that ‘Oumuamua is a deliberate construction.
The scientists argued that the slight, unexpected acceleration observed for this object could be caused by pressure from sunlight as ‘Oumumua swung around the Sun. Their hypothesis is that the object might be a light sail, either deliberately or accidentally sent our way. ..."
“We were looking for a signal that would prove that this object incorporates some technology – that it was of artificial origin,” said SETI Institute researcher Dr. Gerry Harp, lead author of a paper published online in the journal Acta Astronautica.
“We didn’t find any such emissions, despite a quite sensitive search. While our observations don’t conclusively rule out a non-natural origin for ‘Oumuamua, they constitute important data in assessing its likely makeup.”
Dr. Harp and co-authors observed ‘Oumuamua when it was about 170 million miles away, or slightly less than the diameter of Earth’s orbit.
The observations were made between November 23 and December 5, 2017, using the wide-band correlator of the ATA at frequencies between 1 and 10 GHz and with a frequency resolution of 100 kHz.
No signals were found at a level that would be produced by an omnidirectional transmitter on-board the object of a power of about 10 watts or more.
(Excerpt) Read more at sci-news.com ...
Sort of reminded me of CBS’s Salvation (summer series), but when that ‘object’ changed course, traveled behind the moon, and exploded, they cancelled the series.
Now, we will never know what happened!
The SETI Institute was incorporated as a 501(c) California nonprofit organization in 1984 by Thomas Pierson (former CEO), and Dr. Jill Tarter. Financial and leadership support over the life of the SETI Institute has included Carl Sagan, Bernard Oliver, David Packard, William Hewlett, Gordon Moore, Paul Allen, Nathan Myhrvold, Lewis Platt, and Greg Papadopoulos. Two Nobel Laureates have been associated with the SETI Institute: Charles Townes, key inventor of the laser, and the late Baruch Blumberg, who developed the Hepatitis B vaccine.
It is not supported by government funds.
Change SETI to YETI and they’d stand as much chance of finding it.
My CFC contribution of $10/month goes to SETI.
“SETI stands for the “search for extraterrestrial intelligence”
A circle is a circle— When we get a signal ‘saying’ 3.1415 , or just 3.14, I’ll believe we are not alone.....
Has SETI ever thought other planets can’t be bothered with such minor sub-beings on this insignificant planet? Has SETI ever thought it might not be a good idea to ping big bad creatures on other planets who most likely would have the capability to zap us out of the universe?
omnidirectional transmitter ... what about a directional one? - one not aimed at the observers (us) - its a Dark Forest out there and giving away a position might have disastrous and fatal consequences for the senders ...
What would a transmission “saying” 3.10753412172 tell you?
Ok. So what would a transmission “saying” 3.10753412172 mean to you?
litehaus actually wrote 3.14..., not 3.10.... 3.14 is of course pi, the ratio of a circle's diameter to its circumference.
In any case, if we received ANY numbers from outer space it would obviously be a major event.
We definitely don't want to advertise our existence any more than necessary.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.