SetiQuest

Maybe not the best forum for it but why the hell not. SetiQuest is a new (beta) application (also available on Android) in the same lieu as Galaxy Zoo, but instead of classifying Galaxies you look for patterns in radio data. So kind of the same thing that SETI@home does, but as we all know humans are infinitely better at spotting patterns than computers.

Tutorial

Click on the link above, go to 'Explore the Skies Yourself' then click 'Register for the beta.' You can log on with Facebook or Google and that's pretty much it - you'll be assigned random objects in the sky taken on a certain date and frequency range, which you'll scan and look for patterns, by clicking on the second tab in the top right and scrolling along (you'll get a feel for how fast you should be doing it as you go along). When you find one try to get it as close to the middle of the screen as possible and click 'I see a Pattern!' in the bottom right, then click which best describes it.

The data itself comes in a form that should be very familiar to most of us:



Patterns tend to jump out at you so it's not that hard - note dark patches don't count, but when you see one you'll know - it's a patch of solid white that just looks out of place in the background. eg:





or



Locked/Local signals seem to be more common, but you never know what you'll find. Some are easier than others, but as said you're a human - you're already good at it

A few objects don't seem to work yet - like galanticenter-2 assignments always just seem to be blank. And if you get a satellite tracking assignment then there's no real use in doing it, but it can be fun see what there is. Either way you can just skip them.

Also, if this kicks off i was thinking we could post a collection of what we find, under the template:


I'll start the ball rolling with this one from an old friend:



Object: Crab Nebula and Pulsar
RA: 5.57555
Decl: 22.0145
Date of observation: March 26, 2010
Frequency: 1417.0592 MHz
Type of pattern/s: Locked/Local

Good luck!

Had to share, just happened across this epic goldmine:






All in one assignment

That's:

Object: Epsilon Eridani
RA: 3.54885
Decl: -9.45826
Date of observation: November 6, 2010
Frequency: 1417.8328 - 1417.8981 MHz
Type of pattern/s: Squiggles

This is pretty interesting. I'll take a look at this and post any results I happen upon.