SearchLites - Vol 23 No 2

Magazine Overview

SearchLites, Vol. 23, No. 2, Spring 2017, is the quarterly newsletter of The SETI League, Inc. This issue features articles on the philosophical and practical aspects of communicating with extraterrestrial intelligence, the technical feasibility of amateur SETI projects, and an announcement for the organization's annual meeting.

Why Humanity Should Be Messaging Extraterrestrial Intelligence by Bill Kitchen

This lead article argues that while SETI (Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence) is fascinating, the vast distances involved make meaningful two-way communication unlikely. Instead, Kitchen proposes METI (Messaging Extraterrestrial Intelligence) as a way for humanity to leave a lasting legacy in the cosmos. He suggests creating a "time capsule" message containing the entirety of human knowledge, art, science, and culture. This message, broadcast with sufficient power, could reach any potential listeners across the galaxy. The author posits that this act of broadcasting humanity's "ultimate message" could offer a form of immortality, especially given the fragility of human existence and the possibility of self-destruction or cosmic disaster.

Guest Editorial: Is Amateur Optical SETI Feasible? by Marlin (Ben) Schuetz

This editorial explores the viability of amateur optical SETI (OSETI) projects. Schuetz asserts that amateur efforts can be effective, particularly in detecting pulsed laser signals from extraterrestrial intelligence. He explains that scaled pulsed laser systems can outshine parent stars by orders of magnitude during the brief pulse duration, allowing specialized detectors to filter out stellar background noise. The article highlights that institutional OSETI searches are often limited by telescope availability and time allocation. In contrast, smaller amateur telescopes, like the 0.5-meter instrument at the Boquete Observatory, can be competitive. Schuetz details how the Boquete system uses a single photomultiplier tube and a unique method to achieve improved sensitivity and reduce false positives, unlike more complex institutional setups requiring multiple detectors and beam splitters. He also notes that smaller telescopes are less constrained by stellar magnitude limits. The author calls for more small optical SETI observatories to survey nearby stars and mentions METI International's campaign for a Global Network of Optical SETI Observatories. Bruce Howard's Owl Observatory in Michigan is also mentioned as a functional OSETI facility.

Announcement of the Twenty-Third Annual Membership Meeting

This section announces the upcoming annual membership meeting of The SETI League, Inc., scheduled for Sunday, April 23, 2017, at 1 PM Eastern time. The meeting will be held at the conference room of Eventide, Inc., in Little Ferry, NJ. Directions to the venue are provided, including recommendations for air travel to Newark International Airport (EWR) and general aviation to Teterboro Airport. Members are encouraged to attend, as a quorum requires only one percent of the membership. A preliminary agenda is listed, including "Call to Order," "Minutes of 2016 Membership Meeting," "Financial Report," "Committee Reports," "Old Business," "New Business," and "Good and Welfare." The annual Board of Trustees Meeting will follow immediately. Members are asked to RSVP and submit agenda items by specific deadlines.

How Far Can We Hear? by Michael Busch

This article, originally posted to Quora.com, examines the reach of Earth's radio leakage into interstellar space. The author identifies two main sources: narrow-beam high-power radars (scientific and military) and constant-frequency carrier waves from television broadcasts. While radar beams are potentially detectable by advanced radio facilities like the Arecibo Observatory, FAST, and the Square Kilometre Array, they are transient and rarely aimed at specific stars. Television broadcasts, however, sweep across the sky regularly. The article estimates that current radio telescopes like Arecibo and FAST could detect Earth's TV carrier wave leakage up to about sixteen lightyears away. The future Square Kilometre Array, with its location in the southern hemisphere, is projected to detect this leakage up to fifty lightyears. The SKA's capabilities would allow it to determine if the emission originates from an Earth-like planet in a habitable zone and even map transmitter locations. The article concludes by noting that despite decades of radio SETI searches, no alien signals have been found, but much has been learned about what could be deduced from them.

Event Horizon

This section lists upcoming conferences and meetings relevant to SETI research. Events include the Seventeenth annual SETI League Ham Radio QSO Party, the Twenty-Third SETI League Annual Membership Meeting, the AbSciCon 2017 Astrobiology Science Conference, the Society of Amateur Radio Astronomers Conference, and various World Science Fiction Conventions and International Astronautical Congresses spanning from April 2017 to October 2019. Members are encouraged to check the SETI League website or contact them for more details.

Members' Photos

Two photos are included: one of Canadian member Scott Carter with his 3-meter Project Argus dish, and another of SETI League life member Bill Kitchens setting up his Celestron 11-inch telescope for Optical SETI activities.

Amazon Smile Promotion

A brief promotion encourages readers to support The SETI League by shopping through AmazonSmile and selecting "SETI League" as their charitable organization, which donates 0.5% of eligible purchases.

Annual Renewal Information

This section provides details on renewing SETI League memberships, which are issued for the calendar year. It outlines different membership categories and their costs, as well as prices for various "Membership Premiums" such as pocket protectors, mouse pads, and technical publications. Information on paying via PayPal is also included.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue revolve around the active pursuit of SETI and METI, emphasizing both the scientific challenges and the philosophical implications of searching for and communicating with extraterrestrial intelligence. The magazine promotes amateur involvement in SETI research, highlighting its potential contributions and the accessibility of optical SETI. There is a strong emphasis on the SETI League's role in organizing the community, facilitating research, and fostering a sense of shared purpose in the search for cosmic neighbors. The editorial stance appears to be one of proactive engagement, encouraging members to participate in meetings, contribute to research, and support the organization's mission through various means, including membership renewals and AmazonSmile purchases. The issue also underscores the importance of leaving a legacy, whether through scientific discovery or by broadcasting humanity's existence to the universe.