SearchLites - Vol 11 No 2

Magazine Overview

SearchLites, Vol. 11, No. 2, Spring 2005, is the quarterly newsletter of The SETI League, Inc. This issue covers the organization's decision to scale back its annual SETICon event, discusses the debate between Active and Passive SETI, and provides updates on SETI League activities and related astronomical concepts.

Scaling Back on SETICon

This article details The SETI League's decision to reduce the scale of its annual SETICon Technical Symposium. Dr. H. Paul Shuch, volunteer executive director, explains that the events have become a financial drain, costing approximately $4,000 each. To make meetings more accessible and affordable, the 2005 annual membership meeting will be held in conjunction with the larger Trenton Computer Festival on April 17, 2005, at The College of New Jersey. While there is a registration fee for the Trenton Computer Festival, attending the SETI League meeting itself is free. Details for the event can be found on the TCF website (www.tcf-nj.org) and the SETI League website (www.setileague.org/seticon/meet2005.htm).

Tsunami Damage in Sri Lanka

This section features an email from member Sir Arthur C. Clarke, dated December 29, 2004, describing his safety in the wake of the devastating Indian Ocean tsunami. He expresses relief that his family and household escaped the destruction, but notes that millions of Sri Lankans and tourists were not so fortunate. Clarke recounts how his staff at a diving station in Hikkaduwa and his holiday bungalows were affected, with staff safe but shaken, and diving equipment washed away. He highlights Sri Lanka's lack of resources to cope with the aftermath and encourages contributions to relief efforts by charities like Care or Oxfam, or to Sarvodaya, a Sri Lankan development charity. He also mentions the need for improved technical and communications facilities for early warning systems and notes a past prediction of a tidal wave in his book.

Event Horizon

This section lists upcoming conferences and meetings relevant to SETI-related information. Events include the 6th World Symposium on Space Exploration and Life in the Cosmos in San Marino (March 11-12, 2005), Contact 2005 in Mountain View, CA (March 18-20, 2005), and Atlanticon QRP Forum in Timonium, MD (April 12, 2005), where Dr. SETI will be a featured speaker. The seventh annual SETI League Ham Radio QSO Party is scheduled for April 17, 2005. The SETI League Annual Meeting will be held in conjunction with the Trenton Computer Festival at The College of New Jersey on April 17, 2005. Other listed events span various locations globally, including Italy, USA, Scotland, Japan, and Germany, extending into 2007.

Guest Editorial: Making a Case for METI

Authored by Dr. Alexander Zaitsev, Charles M. Chafer, and Richard Braastad, this editorial argues in favor of METI (Messaging to Extraterrestrial Intelligence), contrasting it with the passive approach of SETI (Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence). The authors cite Iosif S. Shklovskii, emphasizing humanity's responsibility to ensure the spark of consciousness does not fade. They note the shift from CETI (Communication with Extraterrestrial Intelligence) to SETI and the emergence of Active SETI, or METI. Several METI attempts are mentioned, including the Arecibo message, Pioneer and Voyager spacecraft, and the Invitation to ETI website. The authors, who have conducted three METI transmissions (Cosmic Call 1999, Teen Age Message 2001, and Cosmic Call 2003), advocate for a democratic approach where individuals, not just elites, speak for Earth. They address three common arguments against METI:

1. METI is not scientific: The authors counter that METI transmissions utilize scientific concepts and encoding techniques, drawing parallels to experiments in natural and social sciences. They also argue that including non-scientific elements like art and music can enhance communication with ETI.
2. METI is risky: Addressing the 'Darth Vader Scenario,' they suggest that avoiding risk is also risky and that potential ETI could offer valuable advice or warnings. They also highlight the risk of not learning from ETI, which could help humanity avoid self-destruction.
3. METI is pointless: The argument that METI is too time-consuming due to vast interstellar distances is countered by historical examples of long-term projects benefiting future generations. They suggest that if all civilizations are afraid to send messages, the galaxy might be silent, and someone must make the first move to break this silence.

Editorial: How Can We Get On Board?

In this editorial, H. Paul Shuch, Ph.D., addresses a perceived confusion regarding the term "SETI Board." He clarifies that while the SETI Institute has a Board of Directors, and Dr. Frank Drake is a member of it and also on The SETI League's Advisory Board, there is no single, overarching "SETI Board" that regulates all SETI organizations. Shuch emphasizes that SETI is a science, not a single experiment, and that the diversity of organizations and methodologies within the SETI enterprise is a strength. He expresses pride in the accomplishments of both the SETI Institute and The SETI League, highlighting their distinct corporate cultures and shared goals, and concludes that The SETI League is fully onboard with the SETI enterprise, even if not on a non-existent "SETI Board."

The Drake Equation: Adding a METI Factor

Dr. Alexander Zaitsev proposes a modification to the Drake Equation by introducing a METI factor, `fm`, to account for the prevalence of communicative civilizations. The modified equation is N = R* × fp × ne × f₁ × fᵢ × f<0xE2><0x82><0x91> × fm × L. He estimates `fm` to be around 0.01, or potentially close to zero if isolationist tendencies prevail, which would render SETI meaningless. Zaitsev posits that both SETI and METI are necessary for contact, citing historical figures like Giuseppe Cocconi, Frank Drake, Carl Sagan, and Andrey Sakharov who supported transmission efforts. He argues that METI signals represent conscious participation in the Universe and that overcoming the "Great Silence" is a prerequisite for hearing the Cosmos.

Ask Dr. SETI: Understanding the Jansky

In this Q&A segment, Dr. SETI explains the Jansky (Jy) unit, commonly used in radio astronomy. Argonaut Roy asks whether the Hz term in the definition (1 x 10^-26 Watts/m²/Hz) refers to frequency or bandwidth. The Doctor clarifies that it refers to the detector bandwidth of the receiver. The Jansky is used for natural continuum emissions, assuming they are spectrally broad. However, for narrow-band signals, like those sought in SETI, the Jansky is not the appropriate unit of measure, and sensitivity is defined in Watts per square meter.

Early Warning of Natural Disasters

Responding to an AOL user's question, Dr. SETI addresses the possibility of using the SETI model, specifically the SETI@home distributed processing experiment, for early warning of natural disasters like tsunamis. While acknowledging the utility of SETI@home for post-processing large datasets, the Doctor explains that natural disaster warning requires instantaneous analysis and feedback, which is unlikely to be achieved by distributed computing alone. He suggests that while distributed computing might be harnessed in the future for analyzing seismic and weather data, it would require a global monitoring system and instantaneous feedback mechanisms.

SETI League 2004 Program Service Accomplishments

This section details the achievements of The SETI League in 2004 across various programs:

• Science Programs: Coordinated 127 Project Argus radio telescopes, operated the W2ETI Moonbounce Beacon, provided committee leadership for the International Academy of Astronautics, contributed to SETI@home, and performed laboratory measurements to refute claims of extraterrestrial technology.
• Technology Programs: Designed an analog power combiner circuit, provided design consultation for the Montecorvino SETI Telescope Array, coordinated technical email lists, and inducted members into the Extra-Terrestrial Century Club.
• Public Education Programs: Conducted EuroSETI04 and SETICon04 symposia, distributed publications like "Tune In The Universe!" and "The SETI League Technical Manual," and the Executive Director gave public lectures.
• Media and Outreach Programs: Published SearchLites, coordinated email lists, distributed press releases and editorials, updated the SETI League website, organized media briefings, and presented awards.

Membership and Ordering Information

The final pages provide information on annual membership renewal for The SETI League, including categories and prices. It also lists various merchandise available for order, such as pocket protectors, mouse pads, technical manuals, proceedings from SETICon and EuroSETI, and gift sets. Payment options include checks and credit cards (Visa/MasterCard). The issue also includes a form for updating mailing addresses.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue revolve around the practicalities and debates within the SETI community, including the financial challenges faced by organizations like The SETI League, the ongoing discussion about the merits and risks of actively transmitting messages (METI) versus passive listening (SETI), and the technical aspects of radio astronomy (e.g., the Jansky unit). The editorial stance, particularly from H. Paul Shuch, emphasizes the importance of diversity within the SETI enterprise, the value of The SETI League's contributions, and the need for clear communication to avoid public confusion about the nature of SETI science. There is also a focus on the organization's activities and outreach efforts, showcasing its accomplishments and continued commitment to the search for extraterrestrial intelligence.