SearchLites - Vol 14 No 2

Magazine Overview

SearchLites, Vol. 14, No. 2, Spring 2008, is the quarterly newsletter of The SETI League, Inc. It is a membership-supported, non-profit educational and scientific corporation dedicated to the electromagnetic search for Extra-Terrestrial Intelligence.

Annual Meeting Notice

The SETI League, Inc. has scheduled its Fourteenth Annual Membership Meeting for 1 PM Eastern time on Sunday, April 20, 2008, at its headquarters in Little Ferry, NJ. The office is located near Route 46 and the Teterboro Airport. Members flying commercially are advised to use Newark International Airport (EWR), and those using General Aviation can use Teterboro Airport. The preliminary agenda includes standard meeting items such as minutes, financial reports, committee reports, old and new business, and good and welfare. Members are encouraged to submit agenda items by April 1, 2008. The annual Board of Trustees Meeting will follow the membership meeting.

SARA Call for Papers

The Society of Amateur Radio Astronomers (SARA), an affiliated society of The SETI League, is soliciting papers for its 2008 Annual Meeting and Technical Conference, to be held June 30 - July 2, 2008, at the National Radio Astronomy Observatory in Green Bank, WV. Papers are welcome on radio astronomy hardware, software, education, research strategies, and philosophy. H. Paul Shuch, SETI League's executive director, is coordinating the joint meeting. Interested individuals should submit a letter of intent with a proposed title and informal abstract to [email protected] by March 15, 2007. Formal proceedings will be published, with peer-reviewed papers. First-draft manuscripts are due by April 1, 2008, with final camera-ready copy due by May 1, 2008. The call emphasizes the importance of SETI League members participating.

Guest Editorial: Probing Distant Atmospheres

Authored by Paul Gilster, this editorial discusses the challenges and methods involved in searching for extraterrestrial life, particularly on terrestrial planets. It highlights the importance of gathering spectral data to determine a planet's atmospheric composition, looking for indicators like carbon dioxide, water vapor, oxygen, and methane. While liquid water and oxygen are strong clues, scientists suggest that finding multiple indicators together would increase confidence in detecting life. The editorial notes that while finding Earth-like environments is a primary goal, the diversity of extrasolar planets means we may need to consider more unusual forms of life. The piece first appeared on Centauri Dreams.

Implications of Astrobiology for SETI

Written by Albert A. Harrison, Ph.D., this article explores how astrobiology, the study of life's origins, evolution, and distribution in the universe, impacts SETI efforts. Astrobiology helps identify potential habitable locations and precursors to life, strengthening terms in the Drake Equation. With advancements in telescopes like TPF and NGST, imaging Earth-like planets and detecting biosignatures within 30-100 light-years will become possible. Astrobiology can provide new heuristics for directing SETI searches and may suggest that Earth has already been detected by advanced civilizations. The article also touches on the possibility of interstellar probes and the vast timescales involved, suggesting that extraterrestrial civilizations might have discovered Earth long before humans evolved. It concludes by noting that while astrobiology is a valuable partner to SETI, NASA prohibits its astrobiologists from directly searching for extraterrestrial intelligence.

Event Horizon

This section lists upcoming conferences and meetings relevant to SETI, including CONTACT 2008, I-Con 27, Astrobiology Science Conference, SETI League Ham Radio QSO Parties, SETI League Annual Membership and Board Meetings, Southeastern VHF Conference, Trenton Computer Festival, Hamvention, Balticon, Rochester Hamfest, SARA Conference, Central States VHF Conference, Denvention 3, EME 2008, Searching for Life Signatures, International Astronautical Congress, AMSAT Space Symposium, Boskone, and Anticipation.

Ask Dr. SETI ®: Justifying the Investment

In response to a question from Rafael (Argentina) about the purpose of continuing the search for ETI if its existence is already known, Dr. SETI explains that SETI, particularly Project Argus, is a very inexpensive science. The investment is minimal, justified by the potential for positive returns. While there is ample circumstantial evidence for ETI, science demands duplicable, reproducible evidence. The SETI League aims to provide objective analysis necessary for credible science, leveraging the diverse talents of its 1500 members.

SARA Announces Keynote Speaker

Dr. Steven J. Dick, chief historian of NASA, has been selected as the Keynote Speaker for the SARA 2008 Annual Technical Conference. His presentation, "Cosmology and Biology," will focus on the Anthropic Principle and the search for life in space. Dr. Dick has a distinguished career in astronomy and history of science, with extensive work at the U.S. Naval Observatory and NASA, and has authored numerous publications on astrobiology and the history of science.

Book Review: The Living Cosmos: Our Search For Life In The Universe

Reviewed by David Ocame, WSIETI, this review expresses disappointment with Chris Impey's book. While acknowledging its clarity and up-to-date information, the reviewer found it lacked novelty and failed to hold attention, reading like many other similar tomes on astrobiology. The reviewer suggests it might be suitable for an intermediate reader unfamiliar with the literature but found it insufficiently in-depth for an advanced reader.

90th Birthday Reflections

Sir Arthur C. Clarke, SETI League Technical Advisor, reflects on his 90th birthday. He expresses contentment with his life and accomplishments, noting the rapid advancements in space travel and communication technologies he has witnessed. Clarke shares three wishes: evidence of extraterrestrial life, a transition to clean energy sources to combat climate change, and lasting peace in Sri Lanka. He hopes to be remembered as a writer who entertained and expanded readers' imaginations, concluding with a quote from Rudyard Kipling.

Financial Page

This section presents pie charts detailing The SETI League's 2007 revenues and expenses. Revenues totaled $22,177, with the largest portions coming from Contributions Received ($9,785, 45%) and Interest Income ($10,385, 48%). Expenses totaled $24,821, with Program Expenses ($10,828, 73%) being the largest category, followed by Fundraising ($2,621, 18%) and Admin & Overhead ($1,392, 9%). The full 2007 Annual Report is available for download online.

Membership Renewal and Premiums

The back page provides information for annual membership renewal, with categories ranging from Full Member ($50/yr) to Benefactor ($1,000,000). It also lists various membership premiums available for purchase, such as pocket protectors, mouse pads, CD-ROMs, and books, with prices for members and non-members. Payment can be made via Visa or MasterCard.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue revolve around the ongoing search for extraterrestrial intelligence (SETI), the scientific advancements in astrobiology that support and inform SETI, and the practical aspects of running a membership-based organization like The SETI League. The editorial stance is one of cautious optimism and scientific rigor, emphasizing the need for evidence-based conclusions while acknowledging the profound implications of potential contact. There is a strong focus on community engagement, encouraging member participation in meetings and activities, and promoting the organization's mission through various publications and events.