SearchLites - Vol 10 No 4

Magazine Overview

SearchLites, Volume 10, Number 4, Autumn 2004, is the quarterly newsletter of The SETI League, Inc. This issue, with ISSN 1096-5599, is published by the membership-supported, nonprofit [501(c)(3)] educational and scientific corporation dedicated to the electromagnetic Search for Extra-Terrestrial Intelligence. The cover headline is "We're All Volunteers Now" by Executive Director H. Paul Shuch, Ph.D.

Editorial: We're All Volunteers Now

Executive Director H. Paul Shuch, Ph.D., announces a significant transition for The SETI League. Due to economic challenges, including a global recession and a general downturn in private support for nonprofit endeavors, the organization can no longer afford a full-time Executive Director. Shuch's contract was not extended beyond August 15, and he will be seeking gainful employment elsewhere, having resurrected his business, Microcomm. Despite this change, Shuch emphasizes that The SETI League is "ABSOLUTELY NOT!" going out of business. Instead, it will operate as a dynamic and vital organization of dedicated and committed volunteers. Shuch will continue to serve as Executive Director on a volunteer basis, as well as continuing as editor of SearchLites and webmaster. He acknowledges that this transition means he may not be able to answer emails instantly, but notes that the search for extraterrestrial intelligence has taught patience. He stresses that continued member support is more important than ever.

Book Review: Lonely Planets

Reviewed by Athena Andreadis, PhD, Associate Professor in Cell Biology at the University of Massachusetts Medical School, this section reviews David Grinspoon's book, "Lonely Planets: The Natural Philosophy of Alien Life." The review notes that astrobiology, the science of life beyond Earth, is often philosophically driven due to the lack of a second independent life sample. Grinspoon's book is described as having a tone similar to Carl Sagan's, being accessible and folksy, though occasionally clunky. It is divided into three sections: "History," covering opinions on life beyond Earth from ancient times to modern science; "Science," detailing current knowledge of the universe, solar system, planets, and exoplanets; and "Belief," which addresses alien visitations, the Drake Equation, Fermi paradox, and alien abduction theories. The review highlights Grinspoon's suggestions that astrobiology is an old discipline requiring interdisciplinary interaction, that Venus's atmosphere might harbor life, and that life plays an active role in shaping planets. It mentions exciting findings from robotic missions and telescopes, such as Viking experiments, Martian meteorites, Europa's potential for life, and insights into planetary system formation. The review also notes some omissions, such as the lack of explanation for RNA, and critiques Grinspoon's views on defining life and intelligence, his use of "complexity theory," and his lumping of SETI and UFOlogy together. Despite these imperfections, the book is deemed informative and enjoyable.

In Memoriam: Dr. John D. Kraus, W8JK

This section is a tribute to Dr. John D. Kraus, W8JK, who passed away on July 18, 2004, at the age of 94. H. Paul Shuch writes about Kraus's distinguished career as Professor Emeritus at Ohio State University, where he taught engineering, physics, and radio astronomy for nearly half a century. Kraus was a prominent physicist, educator, antenna designer, engineer, writer, publisher, radio amateur, and philosopher. His textbooks and memoirs inspired generations of scientists and radio amateurs. He founded "Cosmic Search," the world's first SETI magazine. His designs, including the legendary Big Ear radio telescope, expanded knowledge of the cosmos. The 'Wow!' signal, detected by Big Ear on August 15, 1977, remained a mystery for Kraus. The Big Ear telescope was eventually sold and dismantled for a golf course. Shuch recounts how Kraus ordained him as a radio astronomer, emphasizing the importance of engineers in the field. Kraus is remembered for his wit, frank criticism, generosity, and support. The piece concludes with a reflection on a ceremony dedicating a historical marker at the former Big Ear site.

Event Horizon

This section lists upcoming conferences and meetings related to SETI and space exploration. Events include Noreascon 4 World Science Fiction Convention (Boston, MA), the 55th International Astronautical Congress (Vancouver, BC Canada), and various SETI League Ham Radio QSO Parties and VHF Conferences scheduled through July 2007. Members are encouraged to check the SETI League website for the latest details.

Guest Editorial: Moon Yes, Mars No!

Ron Sirull argues that the US "Moon, Mars and Beyond" program should prioritize a lunar farside SETI facility over a Mars mission. He suggests that a lunar farside radio astronomy and optical cluster could detect a "Galactic Internet," rather than just frozen microbes on Mars. Sirull highlights the advantages of the Moon for SETI, including real-time telerobotic operations and a stable temperature at the South Pole, and notes that solar panels work better on the Moon. He questions why microbe searchers receive so much attention and funding, urging Moon advocates to speak up. Sirull believes that the fascination with Mars is partly due to Orson Welles' "War of the Worlds" broadcast and that recent missions have largely answered questions about life on Mars. He concludes by advocating for maximizing the Moon portion of the initiative, stating "Moon yes, Mars no!"

2003 Annual Report Available for Download

The 2003 Annual Report of The SETI League Inc. is available for download from their website in PDF format. The 18-page report details educational and scientific projects, program accomplishments, new members, major donors, and financial statements, as well as the organization's vision and mission statements.

SearchLites Goes All Electronic

This announcement details the end of the printed edition of SearchLites. Due to increasing costs, the newsletter will become entirely electronic starting with the Volume 11, Number 1 (Winter 2005) issue. Members will be able to download the current issue from the "Members Only" section of the SETI League website. Back issues will remain available to the public.

Astronaut Explains Danger of Asteroids

This article by Larry Klaes reports on astronaut Ed Lu's lecture at Cornell University. Lu, a Cornell alumnus and astronaut who spent six months aboard the International Space Station (ISS), discussed the dangers of asteroids and natural space debris. He showed images of impact craters and explained that while most meteors burn up in the atmosphere, larger space rocks pose a significant threat. Asteroids around 60 meters wide can strike about once per century and explode in the air, citing the Tunguska event in Russia in 1908 as an example. Larger asteroids, five miles wide or more, can wipe out entire species, referencing the extinction of the dinosaurs. Lu compared such an event to "turning off your computer without saving your work." He highlighted the work of the B612 Foundation, which he co-founded, in developing methods to nudge asteroids into safer orbits rather than blowing them up. The article notes that this piece first appeared in the Ithaca Times.

Ask Dr. SETI: Why Use the Rate of Stellar Formation?

In this Q&A, Dr. SETI (Lee, Arizona) explains to a reader why the Drake Equation uses the rate of stellar formation (R*) as its first variable, rather than simply the number of stars in the galaxy. The explanation focuses on achieving dimensional consistency. By using R* (measured in 1/years) and the longevity factor L (measured in years), along with other unitless and ratio factors, the equation results in a pure number (N), representing the number of communicative civilizations.

A 96 kHz Project Argus Station

This article by Harry Kimball describes an upgraded Project Argus radio telescope station (EM29je) that has increased its instantaneous bandwidth from 3 kHz to 96 kHz. This was achieved by adding Time Machine hardware and SpectraVue software, commercially available products. The article details the technical configuration, including the use of an Icom R8500 receiver, a Time Machine, and a soundcard for data processing. It explains how SpectraVue software performs Fourier transforms to analyze the frequency domain for candidate signals. The cost-effectiveness of this upgrade is highlighted, reducing the cost per kHz of instantaneous bandwidth significantly. Additional details are available in the proceedings of SETICon 04.

SETICon Prize Table Overflows (Again)

This section thanks donors for the SETI League's fourth Awards Reception, listing the prizes awarded and the individuals and organizations that donated them. Prizes included a Helical Feed, a Weak Signal Source kit, a Pop Rivet toolkit, SETIFox software, and various books and CDs.

Annual Renewal: Is This Your Last SearchLites?

This page is a membership renewal form for The SETI League. It reminds members to check their expiration date and renew their membership to continue receiving SearchLites. It lists various membership categories and prices, as well as premiums available for purchase, such as pocket protectors, mouse pads, and technical manuals. Payment options include checks and credit cards.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue revolve around the operational and financial realities of the SETI League, emphasizing volunteerism and the challenges of funding scientific endeavors. There is a strong focus on the importance of SETI research, with discussions on astrobiology, the search for extraterrestrial intelligence, and the historical context of these pursuits. The magazine also highlights technological advancements in SETI research, such as the upgraded Project Argus station. The editorial stance is one of resilience and dedication to the mission of SETI, even in the face of financial difficulties, and a call for continued member support. There is also a recurring theme of advocating for specific approaches to space exploration, such as prioritizing lunar SETI facilities over Mars missions.