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A Scientific Search for Visitation
from Extraterrestrial Probes
from Extraterrestrial Probes
A New Search Model in the Quest to find ETI
A New Search Model in the Quest to find ETI
Introduction - Much of the stimulating discussion of interstellar communication assumes the
use of radio waves for communication. The arguments in favor of the use of
radio waves are sound except in a certain case where interstellar probes
merit consideration. In this contribution to the discussion of inter-stellar
communication, the case for the use of probes will receive emphasis.
After contact has been made with another civilization, radio is in all cases
suitable, and probably optimal, for communication, unless the physics of the
future circumvents the serious time delays suffered by electromagnetic waves.
In the precontact phase it is better to consider the situation as a function
of d, the distance to the nearest superior community. If d is small, search
by radio will in time succeed. At a certain larger value of d, radio search
has serious handicaps, and wider attention should be given to the discussion
of probes. If d is larger still, further considerations enter as will be seen
below, and finally if the nearest superior community is extragalactic, the
situation changes again.
Abstract - A ~ 10-metre object on a heliocentric orbit, now catalogued as 1991 VG, made a close approach to the Earth in 1991 December, and was discovered a month before perigee with the Spacewatch telescope at Kitt Peak. Its very Earth-like orbit and observations of rapid brightness fluctuations argue for it being an artificial body rather than an asteroid. None of the handful of man-made rocket bodies left in heliocentric orbits during the space age have purely gravitational orbits returning to the Earth at that time, and in any case the a priori probability of discovery for 1991 VG was very small, of order one in 100,000 per anmun. In addition, the small perigee distance observed might be interpreted as an indicator of a controlled rather than a random encounter with the Earth, and thus it might be argued that 1991 VG is a candidate as an alien probe observed in the vicinity of our planet.
Introduction -- We, the institutions and individuals participating in the
search for extraterrestrial intelligence, Recognizing that the search for
extraterrestrial intelligence is an integral part of space exploration and is
being undertaken for peaceful purposes and for the common interest of all
mankind, Inspired by the profound significance for mankind of detecting
evidence of extraterrestrial intelligence, even though the probability of
detection may be low.
Recalling the Treaty on Principles Governing the Activities of States in the
Exploration and Use of Outer Space, Including the Moon and Other Celestial
Bodies, which commits States Parties to that Treaty "to inform the Secretary
General of the United Nations as well as the public and the international
scientific community, to the greatest extent feasible and practicable, of the
nature, conduct, locations and results" of their space exploration........
Abstract -This paper explains the genesis and provides the texts of two proposed agreements on the procedure to be followed (1) after the assumed receipt of a message from extraterrestrial intelligence, and (2) before an answering message is sent from Earth.
Abstract -An approach is proposed to developing a message from Humankind to extraterrestrial intelligence if we detect it.
Introduction --The Artifact Hypothesis states that an advanced extraterrestrial intelligence has undertaken a long-term programme of galactic exploration via the transmission of material artifacts. An attempt to verify this hypothesis experimentally, the search for extraterrestrial artifacts (SETA), is proposed to detect such evidence in the Solar System by telescopic, radar, infrared, direct probe, or other available means.
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This page was last updated on Saturday, December 08, 2001.