SETI closed temporarily ATA telescope responsible for the search for extraterrestrial life

Due to lack of funds that can cover the activities, the Institute SETI has been forced to put in "hibernation" the use of Allen Telescope Array (ATA), the famous radio telescope to study the behavior of stars and the simultaneous pursuit of intelligence alien. The news is not a final goodbye or anything, just happens to find new ways of funding to continue the project.

ATA currently represents the largest effort of man to search for anomalies that indicate the existence of "ET." An effort was funded jointly by the Institute SETI and Laboratotio of the University of California, Berkeley . Located in the astronomical observatory in Hat Creek, was under construction after completing the first phase with 42 dishes (once completed will consist of 350 antennas), which were already in operation since 2007.

Among the investors was Paul Allen , co-founder of Microsoft , who had initially offered 25 million for the project. Along with Allen were also the National Science Foundation and other private donors. Now, after cuts by the State of California and the NSF, which will seek new funding formulas.

Still, not all are shadows in the project. Franck Marchis, California Institute said recently that the United States Air Force had been following up the debris found in orbit around the planet through ATA. This could be the beginning of a new route for the project, integrated into the agenda of the United States Air Force.

ATA's future may depend on the agenda of the United States Air Force. Unfortunately, because of the turmoil in the recent financing, failed to make a decision in time to keep the observatory operational. Since 15 April, the observatory is in hibernation and all teams have taken care to make sure nothing is damaged over time

Still, the "break" that are applied to the project could not have come at a worse time. This spring we announced the possibility of the existence of 1,235 new planets, all observed through a telescope satellite Kepler . Many of them would be the size of Earth, with temperatures suitable for liquid water, a prerequisite for life as we know it.

A pity that, at least for now, the project is stopped, as was probably the greatest effort of man to know whether we are alone in the universe. Ended with the words of Seth Shostak, an astronomer at SETI, the adjournment of the project:

It is ironic that after so many years and at a time like the present where we find planets, we have no operating funds for listening. We have the radio, antennas, but we can not operate without funds. Honestly, if everyone contributed to only 3 cents extra on your taxes, the world would know if we have cosmic company

SETI closed temporarily ATA telescope responsible for the search for extraterrestrial life written ALT1040 April 26, 2011-jorge miguel
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