Astronomers downplay SETI signal
Posted: Fri, Sep 3, 2004, 11:56 AM ET (1556 GMT)
Reports that astronomers have detected an unusual signal from a distant star have been downplayed by researchers, who say there is little chance the signal comes from an extraterrestrial civilization. New Scientist magazine reported Wednesday that the SETI@home project, sifting through data collected at the Arecibo radio telescope, had identified a mysterious signal emanating from an unidentified source at least 1,000 light-years away. A followup search at Arecibo detected the signal again, while eliminating other candidate signals also found by SETI@home. Astronomers, though, cautioned that this redetection does not mean the signal is necessarily artificial or even real: it may represent a previously-unknown natural phenomenon, or could also be noise or man-made interference. Additional searches are planned to confirm and characterize the signal.
Reports that astronomers have detected an unusual signal from a distant star have been downplayed by researchers, who say there is little chance the signal comes from an extraterrestrial civilization. New Scientist magazine reported Wednesday that the SETI@home project, sifting through data collected at the Arecibo radio telescope, had identified a mysterious signal emanating from an unidentified source at least 1,000 light-years away. A followup search at Arecibo detected the signal again, while eliminating other candidate signals also found by SETI@home. Astronomers, though, cautioned that this redetection does not mean the signal is necessarily artificial or even real: it may represent a previously-unknown natural phenomenon, or could also be noise or man-made interference. Additional searches are planned to confirm and characterize the signal.
Related Links:
| <<previous article | next article>> |
|
news in brief
|
|
China launches first Long March 12A, but booster landing fails
Posted: Sun, Dec 28 9:50 AM ET (1450 GMT) |
|
news links
|
|
Monday, December 29
Iran Says It Launched 3 Satellites Into Space From Russia
AFP — 5:08 am ET (1008 GMT) Starlink withdraws satellite services from Papua New Guinea
Radio New Zealand — 5:07 am ET (1007 GMT) SpaceX Rocket Launch of Italian Satellite Scrubbed Again
Noozhawk — 5:04 am ET (1004 GMT) If we're going to vacation on the Moon, we need to make sure no-one is left behind
BBC — 5:03 am ET (1003 GMT) New Outer Hebrides spaceport won't launch rockets on a Sunday
The Sunday Post — 5:02 am ET (1002 GMT) |
