SearchLites - Vol 10 No 3

Magazine Overview

SearchLites, Volume 10, Number 3, Summer 2004, is the quarterly newsletter of The SETI League, Inc. This issue focuses on the ongoing efforts in the Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence (SETI), the upcoming SETICon04 conference, and related technical and scientific developments.

Return to the Ashes

This article by H. Paul Shuch, Executive Director of The SETI League, reflects on the completion of NASA's Project Phoenix, a decade-long targeted search for extraterrestrial signals. Shuch notes that while Project Phoenix surveyed the nearest sunlike stars thoroughly, it did not yield any confirmed signals, suggesting that technological civilizations might be rarer or more distant than previously thought. He highlights the SETI Institute's next major project, the Allen Telescope Array, designed to be the world's most sensitive SETI instrument. Shuch emphasizes that The SETI League's own Project Argus, an all-sky survey initiated nine years prior, continues its work, systematically scanning the entire sky. He argues that an all-sky approach is crucial if extraterrestrial signals are to be detected from potentially vast distances. The article concludes that SETI is not diminishing but rather evolving, with renewed passion and prospects.

Astronomy Picture of the Day Misleading

Dr. H. Paul Shuch addresses a misleading caption accompanying an image posted on NASA's Astronomy Picture of the Day (APOD) website on March 7, 2004. The image, a genuine signal detection made by SETI League member Gerald Cavan using his backyard radio telescope, was presented with a caption suggesting the signal might originate from an extraterrestrial intelligence. Shuch clarifies that the signal's origin was known and explained since March 24, 1999, when it was posted to The SETI League's website. He explains that the signal was a result of intermodulation caused by a strong GPS signal interfering with his amateur radio setup. The article underscores the importance of identifying terrestrial interference and developing robust detection protocols, a key aspect of The SETI League's Project Argus network, which involves over 100 members operating their own radio telescopes.

Italian Engineer Wins SETI League's Bruno Award

Stelio Montebugnoli, head of the SETI Italia project and a radio astronomer at the Institute for Radio Astronomy in Italy, has been awarded The SETI League's Giordano Bruno Memorial Award. The award recognizes his significant contributions to SETI science, particularly his work with the Northern Cross Radio Telescope and a parasitic SETI program using a 32-meter parabolic reflector equipped with Project SERENDIP processor boards. This program makes SETI Italia one of the world's most sensitive SETI instruments. The Giordano Bruno Memorial Award honors individuals for their technical contributions to SETI and is named after the Italian monk burned at the stake for postulating multiple inhabited worlds.

Event Horizon

This section lists upcoming conferences and events relevant to the SETI and astronomy community from May to October 2004, including Balticon 38, SARA Conference, Bioastronomy 2004, Central States VHF Conference, SETICon 04, Noreascon 4, the 55th International Astronautical Congress, and Microwave Update.

Special SETICon Section

This section is dedicated to the upcoming SETICon04 conference, celebrating ten years of privatized SETI. It includes:

Preliminary SETICon04 Program

A detailed schedule for Friday, August 6th to Sunday, August 8th, 2004, at The College of New Jersey. Events include hardware workshops, technical sessions, greetings, awards banquets, and the annual membership and board of trustees meetings.

Awards Banquet

The Third Annual Awards Banquet is scheduled for Saturday night, August 7th, and will feature a guest speaker. The event will present the Giordano Bruno Memorial Award and the Orville N. Greene Service Award. Tickets are $30 and must be ordered in advance.

Conference Proceedings

Information on purchasing the Proceedings of SETICon04 on CD-ROM, which are included with registration. Additional copies and past proceedings (2000-2003) are also available.

Microwave Circuit Construction Workshop

An optional, hands-on workshop for constructing microwave circuitry, including building and testing a Low Noise Amplifier. The fee is $150 and requires advance registration.

Door Prizes Galore!

An appeal to potential prize donors for the Awards Banquet, with acknowledgments to be made on The SETI League website and in SearchLites.

Annual Meeting Announcement

Notification of the Tenth Annual Membership Meeting on Sunday, August 8th, 2004, at The College of New Jersey. The meeting requires one percent of the membership for a quorum, and members are encouraged to submit agenda items.

Lodging

Details on the official Conference Hotel, AmeriSuites West Windsor/ Princeton, with a special group rate of $95 plus tax, and alternative hotels in the Trenton, NJ area.

Transportation

Information on reaching the conference venue at The College of New Jersey in Ewing, NJ, including directions from the Philadelphia International Airport and train services.

Conference Venue

Details on the location of SETICon04 sessions, the Awards Banquet, and parking at The College of New Jersey.

Don't Miss Joe Taylor, our SETICon04 Banquet Speaker!

Announcement of Professor Joseph Taylor, a Nobel Prize winner, as the featured speaker at the joint banquet with the International Ham Radio Moonbounce Conference. Taylor, a renowned radio astronomer and amateur radio operator, will discuss the contributions of amateurs to radio astronomy and SETI.

SETICon04 Pre-Registration

This section provides detailed pricing and deadlines for pre-registration for the SETICon04 Technical Symposium and related events, including the Microwave Hardware Construction Workshop and the Awards Banquet. It also outlines how to order additional conference proceedings and offers payment options via credit card.

Clarifying Statistical Significance

By David Woolley, this article critiques the quantitative aspects of a previous SearchLites article on statistical significance. Woolley argues that sigma values should be measured in linear power units, not decibels (dB), and discusses the relationship between sigma, probability density distribution, and noise variation. He emphasizes that the true interest lies in the probability of a value being exceeded by noise, rather than just the number of sigmas. The article also touches on the challenges of measuring instantaneous signal and noise.

SearchLites Author's Guide

An invitation for SETI League members and supporters to contribute articles to SearchLites, detailing the types of submissions accepted, word count guidelines, and submission procedures. It also states that submissions become the property of The SETI League and may be edited.

A First: SETI League Releases Conference Proceedings on CD-ROM

This article announces the release of the EuroSETI04 Conference Proceedings on CD-ROM, following the success of the European SETI Science and Technology Workshop. The CD contains 325 files totaling 500 MBytes, including papers, graphics, and photos. The move to digital distribution is highlighted as a cost-saving and environmentally friendly measure. The CD is available for purchase by members and non-members alike.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue revolve around the progress and challenges in SETI research, the importance of both targeted and all-sky searches, the role of amateur contributions, and the organization and promotion of SETI-related events and publications. The editorial stance, as expressed by H. Paul Shuch, is one of optimism and continued dedication to the search for extraterrestrial intelligence, emphasizing that the field is evolving and not in decline. The SETI League actively supports amateur involvement through its Project Argus network and publications like SearchLites, while also participating in broader scientific discussions and collaborations.