Jodrell Bank Centre for Astrophysics Information

Jodrell Bank is a world leader in the development of advanced radio receivers which when used with the Lovell telescope, the second largest fully-steerable radio telescope in the world, make it exceptionally sensitive to faint radio signals. Jill Tarter, Director of the SETI Institute, points out that "by using the Arecibo and Lovell telescopes in the search we will have the most sensitive system possible." The privately-funded SETI Institute, in California, has continued the development of a NASA multi-million channel receiver which is capable of efficiently searching a wide band of frequencies where extra- terrestrial signals might be found. The receiver is located at the Arecibo telescope and will be used to make the initial detection of signals having the appropriate characteristics. The Lovell telescope will then be immediately used to eliminate earth-based interference or confirm any suspected extra-terrestrial signal. Previous searches for Life in the Universe have always been plagued with the problem of discriminating between a "true" extra-terrestrial signal and those originating on Earth or from artificial satellites. As Ian Morison explains: "local signals are eliminated by making simultaneous observations with the two radio telescopes. Due to their transatlantic separation, a signal has to come from a very great distance, from at least the outer part of our solar system, for the computer-based detection systems to be triggered at both telescopes. Fortunately, we can make a regular check on the system by receiving the signal from the Pioneer 10 spacecraft, now far beyond the orbit of Pluto." The search is being undertaken during two three-week observing sessions each year and will continue for several years. As Professor Andrew Lyne, Director of Jodrell Bank, said "If an extra-terrestrial signal were detected, it would be one of the most dramatic discoveries ever made. We are glad that we can make a contribution to this exciting scientific quest."