SearchLites - Vol 17 No 3

Magazine Overview

Title: SearchLites
Issue: Vol. 17 No. 3
Date: Summer 2011
Publisher: The SETI League, Inc.
Type: Quarterly Newsletter

Main Articles and Features

In Search of SETI SuperStars

This section details the SETI League's monthly SETI SuperStar award, instituted a dozen years prior to encourage positive SETI coverage online. The award recognizes non-commercial websites dedicated to the scientific Search for Extra-Terrestrial Intelligence (SETI). The initial rules for the award are outlined, including eligibility for SETI League members to nominate websites, the criteria for evaluation (information content, scientific accuracy, positive portrayal, community service, navigation), and the fact that membership status is not a criterion for selection. Recipients are notified by email and their websites are linked from The SETI League's site. The article notes that after 145 awards, it is becoming difficult to find new websites that meet the high standards, and encourages members to nominate worthy sites, including personal websites featuring amateur radio telescopes. A nominating form is available on www.setileague.org, or nominations can be sent via email to [email protected].

Guest Editorial: Wolves Among the Stars by Adam Frank

This editorial explores the implications of humanity broadcasting its existence into space. The author questions whether it is naive to assume positive contact, likening it to baby birds announcing their presence to predators. He references Steven Hawking's opinion that remaining 'radio quiet' would be the wiser choice, drawing a parallel to the negative outcome for Native Americans when Christopher Columbus arrived in America. The editorial also discusses Greg Bear's books, "The Forge of God" and "The Anvil of the Stars," which depict autonomous, self-replicating Von Neumann machines as interstellar probes that disassemble planets. The core argument is that the speed-of-light restriction on interstellar travel could foster a 'Darwinian competition' mindset, leading species to expect the worst in interstellar relations. The author laments the lack of collective thinking on this issue and questions who decides Earth's strategy for dealing with potential extraterrestrial intelligence. He cites John Billingham's resignation from the SETI Permanent Study Group due to the group's refusal to take a stand on active SETI (beaming messages into space), emphasizing the responsibility to discuss these matters for humankind's future well-being.

The Friendly Candy Company by Richard Factor

This article recounts a personal experience at the National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) trade show. The author, Richard Factor, describes encountering a Federal Communications Commission (FCC) booth where he received a free chocolate. This interaction reminded him of his own expired ham radio license and the bureaucratic process of renewal. He details how an FCC representative, Cecilia Sulhoff, assisted him in renewing his license efficiently, contrasting it with the lengthy process in his youth. Factor praises the FCC's "Friendly Candy Company" approach and questions why the FCC's renewal process is not simpler, suggesting a single form with a renewal box and credit card payment option, and questioning the necessity of charging for database maintenance when other entities offer vast storage for free. He concludes that the complexity stems from a societal habit of periodic renewals rather than a one-time, permanent process.

Ask Dr. SETI ®

#### Is My LNA Oscillating?

A reader named Jim from California asks for advice regarding his Low Noise Amplifier (LNA) acting strangely. He measured -36 dBm output with a terminated LNA and suspects oscillation at a higher frequency. Dr. SETI explains that the output of a properly terminated amplifier should be broadband noise equal to the input noise power amplified by the gain. Using Boltzmann's Law (Pn = kTB), he calculates the expected noise power from a dummy load resistor at room temperature (300K) within a hypothetical LNA passband of 400 MHz (1.3 to 1.7 GHz) to be -88 dBm. Amplified by the LNA's 28 dB gain, the expected output is -60 dBm. The measured -36 dBm is significantly higher (24 dB stronger, about 250 times), confirming Jim's suspicion that the amplifier is oscillating.

#### Did We Transmit on the Wrong Frequency?

David Ritchey from the James S. McDonnell Planetarium asks why the "Arecibo Message" was transmitted at 2380 MHz, when the 'water hole' for listening is at 1420 MHz. Dr. SETI explains that the transmission occurred at 2380 MHz because it was the frequency of the existing radar transmitter at Arecibo, which had recently been renovated. The transmission was part of a dedication ceremony for the upgraded observatory and was intended as a symbolic message to humans about their place in the cosmos, rather than a practical attempt at interstellar communication, given the vast distance and the limitations of the equipment for such a purpose.

Minutes of the Seventeenth Annual Membership Meeting

• Minutes from the meeting held on April 24, 2011, at SETI League Headquarters in Little Ferry, NJ. Key points include:
• Call to Order: Convened by Executive Director Emeritus Dr. H. Paul Shuch with three members present, constituting a quorum.
• Minutes of 2010 Membership Meeting: Approved with an amendment correcting "Web Server, DSL" to "Cable."
• Treasurer's Report: Presented by the Executive Director and Secretary/Treasurer, covering calendar year 2010. Revenues totaled $22,741, expenses were $19,939, resulting in a surplus of $2,803. Account balances were $10,981 at year-end. The 2010 budget projected a deficit of $1,981.
• Executive Director's Report: Accepted as previously posted.
• Committee Reports: EME Committee reported the beacon is off the air due to damaged yagis. Awards Committee announced the Giordano Bruno Award recipient (Christian Monstein) and the Orville N. Greene Award recipient (in memoriam to Dr. Malcolm Raff), and noted that twelve websites received the SETI SuperStar award.
• Old Business: The "Very Small Array" project is on hold due to lack of funding. A mid-year renewal letter will be sent to lapsed members. The 2010 Annual Report is available online. The website will migrate to a new server.
• New Business: The book "Searching for Extraterrestrial Intelligence," edited by H. Paul Shuch, has been published, with royalties accruing to The SETI League. The membership reaffirmed its commitment to searching for extraterrestrial intelligence.

Business Transacted by Board of Trustees:

• Minutes from the Board of Trustees meeting following the Annual Membership Meeting.
• Quorum Call: Confirmed a quorum present.
• Election of Officers: The slate of officers, including President Richard Factor, Secretary/Treasurer A. Heather Wood, and Executive Director Emeritus H. Paul Shuch, was retained for another year.
• Registered Agent: Richard Factor agreed to continue serving as Registered Agent.
• Personnel Matters: An executive session included a performance review for the Secretary/Treasurer and a vote to continue cost-sharing of the Executive Director Emeritus' health insurance premiums.
• Advisory Board: Establishment of a secure email alias for communication with the Advisory Board was approved.
• Web Server Functionality: Richard Factor will explore implementing a function upon activation of the new web server.
• Bank Fees: Alternatives for reducing credit card fees will be explored.
• Adjournment: The meeting adjourned at 13:55 EDT.

Event Horizon

• This section lists upcoming conferences and meetings relevant to SETI, including:
• Dr. SETI concerts and presentations at various amateur astronomy events (May-June 2011).
• Third IAA Symposium on Searching for Life Signatures in St. Petersburg, Russia (June 27-30, 2011).
• Renovation 69th World Science Fiction Convention in Reno, NV (August 17-21, 2011).
• 62nd International Astronautical Congress in Cape Town, South Africa (October 3-7, 2011).
• SETI League Ham Radio QSO Parties (April 21, 2012; April 20, 2013; April 19, 2014).
• SETI League Annual Membership Meetings (April 22, 2012; April 21, 2013).
• Chicon 7 70th World Science Fiction Convention in Chicago, IL (August 30 - September 3, 2012).
• Sixth International Congress for Radio Astronomy in Medicina, Italy (September 2012).
• 63rd International Astronautical Congress in Naples, Italy (October 1-5, 2012).
• 64th International Astronautical Congress in Beijing, China (October 2013).

Book Review

Title: Searching for Extraterrestrial Intelligence: SETI Past, Present, and Future
Editor: H Paul Shuch
Publisher: Springer-Praxis
ISBN: 978-3-642-13195-0
Price: £53.95 (Hb) 538pp

This review by Keith Cooper discusses a comprehensive collection of essays from 26 experts in the field of SETI. The book is divided into three sections: 'The Spirit of SETI Past', 'The Spirit of SETI Present', and 'The Spirit of SETI Future'. It covers historical projects like Project Cyclops, the 'Wow!' signal, the SETI League's Project Argus, NASA's SETI program, and controversial topics like Alexander Zaitsev's messages to extraterrestrial civilizations. The reviewer notes that while some chapters are technical, most are accessible to the layman. Despite its high price, the book is recommended as a must-buy for anyone with a serious interest in SETI, offering a broad overview.

Membership and Renewal Information

This section provides details for renewing SETI League memberships, including categories (Full, Supporting, Scholarship, Household, Life, Sustaining, Patron, Director, Benefactor) and their respective annual costs. It also lists "Order Your Membership Premiums," offering items like pocket protectors, mouse pads, CDs, and books for purchase. Information on paying via PayPal is also included. The issue is printed in the USA.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue revolve around the ongoing quest for extraterrestrial intelligence, the practicalities and challenges of SETI research, and the organizational aspects of The SETI League. The editorial stance, particularly in Adam Frank's piece, leans towards caution regarding active transmission into space, emphasizing the need for careful consideration of potential risks. The magazine consistently promotes the SETI League's activities, awards, and membership, encouraging participation and support for SETI endeavors. There is a clear emphasis on scientific accuracy and the importance of community involvement in SETI efforts, as evidenced by the call for nominations for the SETI SuperStar award and the detailed minutes of the annual membership and board meetings.