Story by Dr. Frank Drake
Director, Center for the Study of Life in the Universe & Chairman Emeritus SETI Institute Board of Trustees
http://www.seti.org/site/pp.asp?c=ktJ2J9MMIsE&b=178943
We live in an awesome universe, rich in remarkable, complex, phenomena. Every advance in our observing capabilities reveals new and often unpredicted objects, such as other planetary systems, and processes in the universe. Of all these phenomena, the most marvelous, and at the same time of the greatest interest to us as human beings, is life in the universe. How many planets exist which might support life? Indeed, what is required for life to exist? How does life start? How does it evolve, and what fabulous creatures can evolution produce? How often do intelligent creatures appear in the giant tapestry of life? It is exactly these questions, and all of them, which are being addressed by the scientists of the Center for the Study of Life in the Universe, LITU.
To make progress towards answers, some scientists in the Center are searching for other planetary systems by relentlessly watching for the slight dimming of starlight which occurs if a planet crosses in front of the star as seen from Earth. We even utilize an automated telescope for this program in the very harsh winter of Antarctica, where almost six months of continual darkness provides ideal observing conditions. In the near future our scientists will participate in the Kepler spacecraft mission, which utilizes a special telescope that will look for the characteristic dimming caused by planetary eclipses. For the first time, there will be adequate sensitivity to detect planets like the Earth. This telescope will continually watch a hundred thousand of stars, always alert for the tiny changes in brightness which would signal the presence of other Earths.
Our scientists are working to understand how planets change over billions of years, and especially how their atmospheres change in their chemistry, temperature, and pressure with time. Especially ? will atmospheres suitable for life be common and enduring?
...
Full Story can be found here
http://www.space.com/searchforlife/seti_drake_LITU_050602.html
and remember
Cosmic Search Vol. 1, No. 1
Independently of Cocconi and Morrison, Frank D. Drake, an astronomer at the National Radio Astronomy Observatory, Green Bank, West Virginia, was formulating plans to conduct an actual search. Drake was 29 when, on April 8, 1960, he turned the 85-foot Howard Tatel telescope of the observatory toward the star Tau Ceti. Project "Ozma" had begun and for the first time man searched for signals of possible extraterrestrial intelligence. In this article Drake shares with you his feelings and emotions as the historic project progressed. It is a real-science thriller. -Eds.
... 🙂
Sir Ulli
Director, Center for the Study of Life in the Universe & Chairman Emeritus SETI Institute Board of Trustees
http://www.seti.org/site/pp.asp?c=ktJ2J9MMIsE&b=178943
We live in an awesome universe, rich in remarkable, complex, phenomena. Every advance in our observing capabilities reveals new and often unpredicted objects, such as other planetary systems, and processes in the universe. Of all these phenomena, the most marvelous, and at the same time of the greatest interest to us as human beings, is life in the universe. How many planets exist which might support life? Indeed, what is required for life to exist? How does life start? How does it evolve, and what fabulous creatures can evolution produce? How often do intelligent creatures appear in the giant tapestry of life? It is exactly these questions, and all of them, which are being addressed by the scientists of the Center for the Study of Life in the Universe, LITU.
To make progress towards answers, some scientists in the Center are searching for other planetary systems by relentlessly watching for the slight dimming of starlight which occurs if a planet crosses in front of the star as seen from Earth. We even utilize an automated telescope for this program in the very harsh winter of Antarctica, where almost six months of continual darkness provides ideal observing conditions. In the near future our scientists will participate in the Kepler spacecraft mission, which utilizes a special telescope that will look for the characteristic dimming caused by planetary eclipses. For the first time, there will be adequate sensitivity to detect planets like the Earth. This telescope will continually watch a hundred thousand of stars, always alert for the tiny changes in brightness which would signal the presence of other Earths.
Our scientists are working to understand how planets change over billions of years, and especially how their atmospheres change in their chemistry, temperature, and pressure with time. Especially ? will atmospheres suitable for life be common and enduring?
...
Full Story can be found here
http://www.space.com/searchforlife/seti_drake_LITU_050602.html
and remember
Cosmic Search Vol. 1, No. 1
Independently of Cocconi and Morrison, Frank D. Drake, an astronomer at the National Radio Astronomy Observatory, Green Bank, West Virginia, was formulating plans to conduct an actual search. Drake was 29 when, on April 8, 1960, he turned the 85-foot Howard Tatel telescope of the observatory toward the star Tau Ceti. Project "Ozma" had begun and for the first time man searched for signals of possible extraterrestrial intelligence. In this article Drake shares with you his feelings and emotions as the historic project progressed. It is a real-science thriller. -Eds.
... 🙂
Sir Ulli
