SearchLites - Vol 09 No 1

Magazine Overview

SearchLites, Volume 9, Number 1, Winter 2003, is the quarterly newsletter of The SETI League, Inc. This issue focuses on the organization's efforts to navigate challenging economic times while continuing its mission to search for extraterrestrial intelligence (SETI).

Making the Tough Decisions

Executive Director H. Paul Shuch addresses the difficult policy decisions facing The SETI League due to economic slowdown and global conflict. He explains that the monthly press release, previously sent to 700 journalists, will now be distributed electronically due to rising printing and postage costs. This move is expected to save several hundred dollars per month. Additionally, a password-protected "Members Only" section has been established on the SETI League website to distribute materials like the annual membership roster more economically. The newsletter also announces a shift to a calendar-year membership system to streamline operations and reduce administrative burden. New and renewing memberships processed from January through April will expire at the end of the year. Those processed from May through August will pay half dues and expire at the end of the year. Members joining from September through December will pay full dues, with their memberships extended to expire at the end of the following year. Shuch emphasizes that a dues increase is not an option and solicits suggestions from members on how to 'do more with less.'

SETI League Launches Free Web-Based Journal

'Contact In Context,' a new peer-reviewed, web-based academic journal, has been launched by The SETI League, Inc. This journal is dedicated to astrobiology and the search for intelligent life in the universe, covering areas such as microwave spectrometry, optical spectrometry, electrical engineering, and chemistry. It is intended for researchers, resource professionals, and scientists. Edited by Prof. Robert Lodder and Dr. Allen Tough, the journal is published semiannually and distributed free via the World Wide Web. Submission guidelines are available at <http://cic.setileague.org>.

SETI League Discontinues Press Releases via Post

Due to rising printing and postage costs and general economic conditions, The SETI League will no longer distribute monthly press releases via postal mail. Members are encouraged to access the latest press releases electronically via the SETI League website (<http://www.setileague.org/press>) or subscribe to free electronic delivery via email (<http://www.setileague.org/admin/pressrel.htm>).

Amateur Radio Astronomers Team Up With Alien Hunters

The SETI League, Inc. has affiliated with the Society of Amateur Radio Astronomers (SARA). This affiliation formalizes a partnership where both organizations will join each other as Member Societies. SARA, founded in 1981, focuses on developing technology to study natural astrophysical phenomena, while The SETI League, founded in 1993, aims to privatize the scientific search for technological civilizations. The two organizations share many members and have complementary missions. This alliance aims to provide an opportunity for scientific collaboration.

Book Review: Probability 1: Why There Must Be Intelligent Life in the Universe

Brent Bedford reviews Amir D. Aczel's book, 'Probability 1: Why There Must Be Intelligent Life in the Universe.' The book argues that the existence of intelligent, evolved species mathematically guarantees the existence of at least one other equally intelligent civilization. Aczel approaches the topic using mathematical probability, covering concepts from Fermi's Paradox and Drake's equation to chaos theory. The review suggests that while the book may summarize known information for ETI experts, it serves as a great introduction for newcomers and highlights the book's attempt to mathematically prove extraterrestrial existence. The reviewer recommends looking at the last three or four chapters for their reassuring implications.

Event Horizon

This section lists upcoming conferences and meetings relevant to SETI, including the AMSAT Symposium, Philcon '02, Arisia '03, HamCation 2003, Lunacon 2003, and various SETI League events like SETICon03 and Ham Radio QSO Parties. Dates range from November 2002 to October 2004.

Remembering: Phylis Morrison

H. Paul Shuch writes a tribute to Phylis Morrison, wife of SETI patriarch Prof. Philip Morrison, who passed away in July. Phylis was a staunch supporter of The SETI League, becoming a member in her own right. She was an educator of art and science, and a collaborator with her husband on numerous projects, including the PBS series 'The Ring of Truth' and the book/film 'Powers of Ten.' She was recognized for her work in education reform and her dedication to teaching children about science. She received the National Science Board's Public Service Award along with her husband in 2000. The tribute highlights her childlike wonder, her "techie" nature, and her strong concerns about the role of technology in education, emphasizing the importance of active inquiry and scientific experimentation.

SETI League Director Honored by Radio Club of America

Dr. H. Paul Shuch, executive director of The SETI League, has been elected a Fellow of the Radio Club of America, the world's oldest radio society. Shuch, a lifelong amateur radio operator and retired engineering professor, has headed The SETI League for eight years. He is credited with designing the first commercial home satellite TV receiver and has authored over 300 publications. He has received numerous amateur radio awards and is a frequent speaker at conventions and clubs. His amateur radio station, N6TX, operates on all ham bands, and he has served on the boards of various organizations, including AMSAT and Project OSCAR.

SETI Radio Telescope Wins ARRL Grant

The ARRL Foundation has issued a $3,000 grant to The SETI League, Inc. for the design and construction of a next-generation radio telescope prototype, the Very Small Array (VSA). The VSA, currently under construction, will combine eight standard satellite TV dishes. This project follows an earlier NASA Small Research Grant and has received matching funds from SETI League members worldwide, bringing the total VSA funding to $10,000. The VSA will be used to test engineering concepts for the planned $250,000 Array2k project.

Holographic Interstellar Message Plaques

Dr. Gregory L. Matloff and C. Bangs describe their NAS-funded research project investigating the possibility of a thin-film white-light holographic message plaque for future interstellar space probes. The prototype plaque, created with the Center for Holographic Art, is in the permanent collection of the Space Transportation Directorate at MSFC. It contains six images depicting humans, their size relative to the spacecraft, and Earth's location. Research indicated that holograms are highly radiation resistant, and a plaque the size of a piece of paper could contain hundreds of thousands of images.

Software Corner: Project Argus Accessory Programs

Peter Cheasley, VE2TPR, recommends several software programs for Project Argus participants, including 'Active Diary' for record-keeping, 'Acoutisca Spectrogram' for audio analysis, and 'Widi 2.7' for recording audio data. He also mentions 'Cakewalk' for audio signal analysis and 'RedShift 3' and 'RedShift 4' for plotting RA action. A magnifier utility, 'PowerMagnifier v. 1.0,' is also suggested for visual assistance.

Awards Committee Corner: In Search of Winning Websites

The SETI League has been awarding a "SETI SuperStar" honor to one SETI-related website per month for the past two and a half years. The award recognizes sites that best promote SETI science and The SETI League. Noncommercial websites are eligible and are evaluated based on information content, scientific accuracy, presentation, and community service. Members are encouraged to nominate websites, including their own.

Calling All Bruno and Orville Candidates

Nominations are open for The SETI League's highest honors: the Giordano Bruno Memorial Award and the Orville N. Greene Service Award. The Bruno award recognizes significant technical contributions to amateur SETI, while the Greene award honors exceptional volunteer contributions to The SETI League. Both awards will be presented at the annual Awards Banquet in conjunction with SETICon03 on April 26, 2003.

On Being a Good Neighbor

Dr. H. Paul Shuch discusses how radio amateurs can deal with neighbors' aesthetic concerns regarding antennas. He recounts his experience with the Very Small Array (VSA) project, where neighbors protested its construction. Shuch invoked PRB-1, the FCC's federal pre-emption of local zoning regulations over ham radio antennas, which protected the VSA from zoning restrictions. He ultimately reached a compromise by mounting the dishes close to the ground and planting trees to shield them from view, emphasizing that conciliation is often a better approach than confrontation.

A Teen-Age Message to the Stars

Alexander L. Zaitsev describes the composition of a Teen-Age Message (TAM) to extraterrestrial intelligence, transmitted from the Evpatoria Deep Space Center in Autumn 2001. The message, composed by Russian teens, was designed to be a single-valued function of time, incorporating astrophysical characteristics, human feelings, and thoughts. The TAM included a monochromatic radio wave, a Theremin concert, and digital information such as the message's logotype and greetings in Russian and English.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue revolve around the challenges of operating a non-profit organization in difficult economic times, the importance of technological innovation in SETI research, the role of amateur radio in scientific endeavors, and the ongoing efforts to communicate and share knowledge about SETI. The editorial stance, as expressed by H. Paul Shuch, is one of pragmatic adaptation, resourcefulness, and a commitment to the SETI mission despite external pressures. There is a strong emphasis on community, volunteerism, and the value of scientific inquiry and education.