Question about SETI activity (not @home)

[TheDS]

In 1992, I first heard of SETI, as if it had not been done before. I have since learned that the impression I had was not true, that the modern SEETI project dates back to about 1959. So I am left wondering what the big deal was that was started in 1992, that might have been misrepresented (or simply misunderstood) as the very beginnings of modern SETI?

So far, my research has indicated the most likely event is the beginnings of the HRMS, but I cannot tell what exactly this was. A new space telescope? Installation of microwave receivers at a number of radio telescopes around the world? A reorganization of SETI capability, much like SETI@Home was? Something else?

The whole reason I remember the year was that they were making a big todo about it being the 500th anniversary of Columbus' discovery of America, and presumably the project was going to start on Columbus Day, like October 12th.

So, anyone have any idea about this?

[rajausa]

Maybe there is an article here ; at these places that answers that. Hope you get the answer here if i understood your question properly. Try these links . The second one may help the most. http://www.coseti.org/osetinew.htm | http://history.nasa.gov/seti.html
http://www.planetary.org/html/UPDATES/seti/history/History13.htm
http://www.hal-pc.org/~malel/seti.html
http://www.rain.org/UFO/cipart2d.htm

[TheDS]

Very helpful, and confirms that HRMS is almost certainly what it was that I saw back then. It was the first time NASA itself got officially involved with SETI, and apparently was an upgrade to certain existing radio telescopes, or a program used to take advantage of them.

I saw numerous references to the narrowness of the electromagnetic window being looked through, that we were focusing pretty much solely in the radio/microwave regions, and that we would not even be able to detect an alien space probe in our own solar system unless it used a broadcast radio.

I think this will pretty much answer my question, but if anyone has any further information they can think of, please feel free to post it, or to drop me an email.

Thanks rajausa!

[rajausa]

Glad to have helped you :)

[TheDS]

A little more interesting info, FYI, for those who were afraid to click the links:

HRMS (High Resolution Microwave Survey) began on the 500th anniversary of Columbus' discovery of America, October 12, 1992. It expanded the "window" that we search through to find alien radio signals, increased the rapidity of the search, and may have coordinated the search far more than it had been in the past. Previously, the SETI effort was not much in capability above a widespread amateur movement, but of course, amateurs don't have radio telescopes.

HRMS began searching the near stars - those within 100 light years - and likely stars - probably F, G, and K stars out to much further. I don't know how far they got. The project was slated to last 10 years, but Congress cut its funding after only 1 year.

The project languished for a few years, and then was picked up by what I believe to be a private concern. Since that time, computational power has increased dramatically, allowing us to scan and reject (probably) billions or trillions of signals per second. I say probably because I don't know for sure; you SETI@home guys should have a much better idea how much work is being done, and probably have a good idea what's been going on recently, so I won't hazard further guesses, now that I'm out of actual information.