SearchLites - Vol 22 No 1

Magazine Overview

Title: SearchLites
Issue: Vol. 22 No. 1
Date: Winter 2016
Publisher: The SETI League, Inc.
Country: USA
Language: English
ISSN: 1096-5599

This issue of SearchLites, the quarterly newsletter of The SETI League, Inc., delves into topics of planetary classification, space exploration, and the ongoing search for extraterrestrial intelligence. It features a lead article by Dr. John Boardman, extensive photo coverage of the 2015 International Astronautical Congress, and an editorial on a new target for the New Horizons spacecraft.

Comet, Asteroid, Planet, or Dwarf?

Dr. John Boardman's article, originally from the November 2015 issue of Dagon, addresses the International Astronomical Union's re-classification of planets and the establishment of the 'dwarf planet' category. Boardman compares the mean radii of celestial bodies like Mercury (1,516 miles), Eris (925 miles), Ceres (294 miles), and Earth's Moon (1,079 miles). He questions Ceres' classification as a dwarf planet, noting its location in the Asteroid Belt between Mars and Jupiter, suggesting it might be better classified as the largest asteroid due to its composition and origin, unlike dwarf planets found at the Solar System's fringes. The article also touches upon the public's reaction to Pluto's demotion, speculating that astrological influences might play a role in the objections.

Special Photo Section: International Astronautical Congress, Jerusalem, Israel (October 2015)

This section provides a visual record of the 66th International Astronautical Congress (IAC) held in Jerusalem. Photographs capture various events and attendees:

• Academicians gathered to celebrate the success of the Philae cometary lander and the discovery of organic compounds, encouraging astrobiologists.
• Johann-Dietrich Woerner, Director General of the European Space Agency, shared his vision for space exploration.
• H. Paul Shuch, SETI League executive director emeritus, is pictured with Madhavan Nair, President of the International Academy of Astronautics.
• A group of eight SETI scientists attended the annual IAA SETI dinner, possibly due to safety concerns.
• H. Paul Shuch congratulates Pete Warden on his election to the SETI Permanent Committee of the International Academy of Astronautics. Warden, formerly of NASA Ames Research Center, now leads the Breakthrough Listen initiative.
• A SETI Science and Technology session group is shown, including presenters Amri Wandel, H. Paul Shuch, Daniela de Paulis, Claudio Maccone, David Duner, and Lori Walton.
• Lori Walton presented an historical overview of the International Academy of Astronautics SETI Committee.
• NASA administrator Charles Bolden and Israel Space Agency director general Menachem Kidron signed a cooperative agreement for future collaborations.
• Claudio Maccone presented a mathematical model for the emergence of life on exoplanets.
• Daniela de Paulis, artist in residence at the Dwingeloo radio telescope, discussed a virtual reality film about Earth views from space, intending to analyze subjects' brain waves.
• David Duner spoke about the longevity of extraterrestrial civilizations.
• Amri Wandel delivered the annual Rudolf Pesek Lecture.
• The IAA Climate Change panel was represented by astronauts aboard a malfunctioning spacecraft.
• Youth carried flags during the Opening Ceremonies.
• Music and dance performances marked the Opening Ceremonies.
• Lori Walton spoke about SETI searches for large-scale technosignatures.
• H. Paul Shuch met with Prof. Yang Yuguang of the Beijing Institute of Electronic System Engineering, Secretary of the IAF Space Transportation Committee.
• Claudio Maccone discussed using the realistic KLT to detect signals from theorized extraterrestrial spaceships.
• Daniela de Paulis updated on the New Horizons (One Earth) message initiative.

Event Horizon

This section lists upcoming conferences and meetings relevant to SETI research, inviting members to check the SETI League website for details. Events include:

• AAAS Annual Meeting, Washington, DC (February 2016)
• SETI League Ham Radio QSO Party (April 2016 & April 2017)
• SETI League Annual Membership Meetings, Little Ferry, NJ (April 2016 & April 2017)
• Balticon 50, Baltimore, MD (May 2016)
• MidAmeriCon II, Kansas City, MO (August 2016)
• International Astronautical Congresses in Guadalajara, Mexico (September 2016), Adelaide, Australia (September 2017), and Bremen, Germany (October 2018).

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Guest Editorial: A KBO Target for New Horizons

Paul Gilster, writing for Centauri Dreams, discusses the selection of Kuiper Belt Object (KBO) 2014 MU69 as the next destination for the New Horizons spacecraft's extended mission. The mission, if approved by NASA, would involve a rendezvous approximately 1.5 billion kilometers beyond Pluto/Charon. Gilster quotes John Grunsfeld, chief of NASA's Science Mission Directorate, who highlights the cost-effectiveness and scientific value of such an extended mission. The article notes that trajectory changes are already being factored in for a planned January 1, 2019 flyby. Gilster also quotes Alan Stern, New Horizons Principal Investigator, who praises 2014 MU69 as an ancient KBO that is cost-effective to reach and leaves ample fuel for the flyby and ancillary science. The object, approximately 45 kilometers across, is described as ten times larger than the average comet and a thousand times more massive. The article references the discovery of the first trans-Neptunian object, (15760) 1992 QB1, by David Jewitt and Jane Luu in 1992, and the naming challenges for KBOs, noting that 2014 MU69 is currently referred to as 'PT1' (potential target 1).

Disclaimer

The opinions expressed in editorials are those of the individual authors and do not necessarily reflect the position of The SETI League, Inc.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

This issue of SearchLites consistently promotes the SETI League's mission of searching for extraterrestrial intelligence through scientific endeavors. It highlights the importance of ongoing space exploration, particularly missions like New Horizons that provide insights into the formation of our solar system. The magazine also emphasizes the value of scientific conferences, such as the International Astronautical Congress, as platforms for collaboration and knowledge sharing within the astronomical and SETI communities. The editorial stance appears to be one of advocating for continued research, exploration, and public engagement in astronomy and SETI.