Are nearby planets sending radio signals to each other?
Astronomers from Penn State and the SETI Institute conducted a 28-hour search for extraterrestrial radio signals in the TRAPPIST-1 system, identifying 2,264 signals but confirming none as non-human.
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Astronomers from Penn State and the SETI Institute have conducted a significant search for radio signals between planets in the TRAPPIST-1 star system, utilizing the Allen Telescope Array (ATA). This research, which lasted 28 hours, represents the longest single-target search for extraterrestrial signals in this system, located 41 light years from Earth. The team focused on detecting signals during planet-planet occultations (PPOs), a phenomenon where one planet passes in front of another from Earth's perspective. Although they identified 2,264 signals during these windows, none were confirmed to be of non-human origin. The study introduced new methodologies for searching for extraterrestrial communications, emphasizing the potential of advanced equipment like the upcoming Square Kilometer Array to enhance detection capabilities. The research involved undergraduate students and was primarily funded by the U.S. National Science Foundation. The TRAPPIST-1 system, with its seven rocky planets, remains a prime target for future searches for life beyond Earth, as it offers conditions that may support liquid water.
- Penn State and SETI Institute searched for radio signals in the TRAPPIST-1 system.
- The study focused on planet-planet occultations to detect potential communications.
- No extraterrestrial signals were found, but new search techniques were developed.
- The research involved undergraduate students and was funded by the U.S. National Science Foundation.
- TRAPPIST-1 is a key target for future searches for extraterrestrial life due to its habitable zone.
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