Astronomy Picture of the Day 7-28-02

NASA ^ | 7-28-02 | Robert Nemiroff and Jerry Bonnell

[petuniasevan]

Astronomy Picture of the Day

Discover the cosmos! Each day a different image or photograph of our fascinating universe is featured, along with a brief explanation written by a professional astronomer.

2002 July 28

An Anomalous SETI Signal
Credit & Copyright: SETI League

Explanation: No one knows for sure what caused this signal. There is a slight possibility that it just might originate from an extraterrestrial intelligence. The bright colors on the blue background indicate that an anomalous signal was received here on Earth by a radio telescope involved in a Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence (SETI). A search for these signals is ongoing by several groups including volunteer members of the SETI League. Time labels the vertical axis of the above plot, and frequency marks the horizontal axis. Although this strong signal was never positively identified, astronomers have identified in it many attributes characteristic of a more mundane terrestrial orgin. In this case, a leading possibility is that the signal originates from an unusual modulation between a GPS satellite and an unidentified Earth-based source. Many unusual signals from space remain unidentified. No signal has yet been strong enough or run long enough to be unambiguously identified as originating from an extraterrestrial intelligence.

[petuniasevan]

The setileague.org links were not working when I posted this.

Astronomy Fun Fact:

You can help with the search for signals! SETI @ Home

Freeper RadioAstronomer is involved with SETI.

Get on the APOD PING list!

[petuniasevan]

APOD PING!

[2Trievers]

Way KEWL! Thanks 'tunia. &;-)

[cardinal4]

Thanks for putting me on the list, its a cool diversion.

[fnord]

You can run SETI on your computer.
FReepers have had a team going for a while.
Click here to join the team and help search:

http://setiathome.berkeley.edu/stats/team/team_15327.html

[leadpenny]

F-16s Pursue Unknown Craft Over Region

Mmmmmmmmm? :-|

[Savage Beast]

Maybe the extraterrestrials have received our signals but just decided that it would be wiser not to respond.

[petuniasevan]

Have a look at our radio and TV broadcasts over the last 75 years.

If you were an alien, would you want to talk to us?

[Savage Beast]

No.

In fact I'd make sure it looked like there was nobody out there. Maybe that's what they've done...: "Nobody out here."

You can't blame them.

[petuniasevan]

Guess we'll just have to live up to our reputation
as the unwashed yokels of the Orion Arm of the Milky Way.

[okimhere]

Thanks! Interesting concept, that SETI. I had wondered what successes they were having. Clicking one of the first links and hearing the sound is fascinating whether it's a stray wave from a satellite or ... ?

[okimhere]

Maybe the extraterrestrials have received our signals but just decided that it would be wiser not to respond

LOL!

ET to aide: If earth calls, I'm not here.

[MeekOneGOP]

bumpers! I clicked on the signal link.....sound reminded me of an
old 50s SciFi movie!

[MeekOneGOP]

ET to aide: If earth calls, I'm not here.

hehehe

[Savage Beast]

LOL! Well, we're the unwashed yokels of the Earth. Might as well be the unwashed yokels of everything else while we're at it.

[Savage Beast]

P.S. Are those great quotes yours? I'd like to put them in my famous quote file!

[mikrofon]

True, Earth is probably considered the "pit" of the Orion arm .... any aliens out there likely give us a wide berth (except for the occasional "tourist" ;^)

[petuniasevan]

Just the one about the unwashed yokels. The graphics are from the internetbumpersticker.com site.

[petuniasevan]

And you may quote me about us yokel Earthlings!

[WSGilcrest]

http://bhs.broo.k12.wv.us/homepage/staff/seti/farms.htm