searching for life among the stars

© 2000 The SETI League, Inc.© 2000 The SETI League, Inc.Background © Jon LombergBackground © Jon Lomberg

All Rights ReservedAll Rights Reserved

Searching for Life Searching for Life Among the StarsAmong the Stars

H. Paul Shuch, Ph.D.H. Paul Shuch, Ph.D.

Executive DirectorExecutive Director

The SETI League, Inc.The SETI League, Inc.



Are We Alone?Are We Alone?



Are Are TheyThey Alone? Alone?



Birth of Radio AstronomyBirth of Radio Astronomy

• Karl JanskyKarl Jansky

• Bell Labs, 1932Bell Labs, 1932

• Bruce Array Bruce Array

• Cosmic StaticCosmic Static



Amateur ScienceAmateur Science

• Grote Reber, W9GFZGrote Reber, W9GFZ• 10 meter dish, 193710 meter dish, 1937• first true radio telescopefirst true radio telescope• first Milky Way mapfirst Milky Way map



So What’s A SETI?So What’s A SETI?



Searching for Inter-Searching for Inter-Stellar CommunicationStellar Communication



Project OzmaProject Ozma

• Frank D. DrakeFrank D. Drake• Green Bank WV, 1960Green Bank WV, 1960• Two Sun-like StarsTwo Sun-like Stars• Order of the DolphinOrder of the Dolphin



The Drake EquationThe Drake Equation



Big EarBig Ear



Mom?Mom?



Wow!Wow!



Could It Be a Hoax?Could It Be a Hoax?



The Microwave WindowThe Microwave Window



Extra-Solar Planets? Extra-Solar Planets?



Habitable ZonesHabitable Zones

• Stable OrbitsStable Orbits• Rocky ShoresRocky Shores• Nitrogen SkiesNitrogen Skies• Liquid WaterLiquid Water



Life in the UniverseLife in the Universe

• Planets AbundantPlanets Abundant• Liquid WaterLiquid Water• Organic MoleculesOrganic Molecules• Microbial LifeMicrobial Life



Complex Life?Complex Life?



Intelligent Life?Intelligent Life?



What Does It Take?What Does It Take?

• Once, facilities only Once, facilities only governments could affordgovernments could afford

• In fact, the kinds In fact, the kinds not evennot even governments can affordgovernments can afford

• New paradigm: SETI with New paradigm: SETI with what what youyou can afford can afford



The SETI League, Inc.The SETI League, Inc.

•GlobalGlobal•Grass-rootsGrass-roots•NonprofitNonprofit



Do It Yourself SETIDo It Yourself SETI



Project ArgusProject ArgusLaunched 21 April 1996Launched 21 April 1996Initially, 5 radio telescopesInitially, 5 radio telescopes

Our Goals:Our Goals:• 5000 small dishes5000 small dishes• Coordinated via Coordinated via

the Internetthe Internet• All directions at onceAll directions at once



Going Going GlobalGlobal



Array2kArray2k



Heard So FarHeard So Far



GPS InterferenceGPS Interference



L2 L2 Too!Too!



ATC Radar InterferenceATC Radar Interference



MoonbounceMoonbounce



Iridium SatellitesIridium Satellites



SuperNova RemnantsSuperNova Remnants



Mars Global SurveyorMars Global Surveyor



SETI@homeSETI@home



‘‘Wigglers’Wigglers’



How To Join UsHow To Join Us

[email protected]@setileague.org1 (800) TAU-SETI1 (800) TAU-SETI



There are so many There are so many

successful musicianssuccessful musicians

with no talent . . .with no talent . . .

Why can’t I be Why can’t I be

one of them?one of them?

searching for life among the stars

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