First Radio Signal Detected from Beyond Solar System

[SexyGreyFox]

A Durban University of Technology teacher and his students have found the first radio signal from outside our solar system. Using their radio telescope named Indlebe. A transit instrument operating on Hydrogen Line Frequency of 1420 MHZ.

The project leader, Stuart MacPherson, said his students were amazed. “We had made significant changes to the receiver to increase its sensitivity. When we went in that morning to check the data, we found that it had detected a source”

The signal was detected in Sagittarius A, which is found in the center of the Milky Way. Macpherson and his crew of students will be making improvements to their telescope Indlebe, which in Zulu means ear. The signal is a huge step for DUT students.

http://www.witness.co.za/?showcontent&global[_id]=11385

 

[BigglesPiP]

Is it actually a signal carrying data, or just a source of radio waves?

 

[ethan]

Crucial question?

 

[Radiation]

I know seti looks in that part of the spectrum but they should try more normal frequencies like we use, how do they expect to pick up aliens leaking signals in just a short frequency when we use allsorts, they need to widen their search.

 

[Glaucus]

It'll turn out to be a load of rubbish..

 

[ethan]

All I can find is "man gives detailed acount of assault on herdsman" and that can't be it?

 

[Azagoth]

Isn't the supposed super-massive black hole at the centre of the galaxy located in Sagittarius A? If so, then I very much doubt that intelligent life would be living there, let alone building transmitting equipment there.

 

[ethan]

This about sums it up:
http://indlebe.dut.ac.za/news.html

 

[yak.h'cir]

Radio signals are detected all the time from space, we have telescopes that are specially designed to observe this part of the spectrum (radio telescopes )

If you're talking about radio signals being detected that are thought to be of intelligent origin this has happened before too, google the seti 'wow' signal.

 

[Grandmaster Fap!]

Isn't the supposed super-massive black hole at the centre of the galaxy located in Sagittarius A? If so, then I very much doubt that intelligent life would be living there, let alone building transmitting equipment there.

Pish! dont you know it's probably a giant mothership sending us the signal, only a matter of time before we send Jodie Foster to investitigatify!

 

[[TR]SweetSpotOz]

x

 

[badbob]

Isn't the supposed super-massive black hole at the centre of the galaxy located in Sagittarius A? If so, then I very much doubt that intelligent life would be living there, let alone building transmitting equipment there.

Our galaxy has a SMBH, in fact most large galaxies do.

 

[Hedge]

Id pee myself if it was a motivational tape

 

[PhillyDee]

On the evening of 28th July 2008, at 21h14 local time the Indlebe Radio Telescope, situated on the Steve Biko campus of the Durban University of Technology, successfully detected its first radio source from beyond the solar system. A strong source was detected from Sagittarius A, the centre of the Milky Way Galaxy, approximately 30 thousand light years away.

 

[khemist]

Turns out it was phones4u with the latest deals.

 

[Le_Petit_Lapin]

On the evening of 28th July 2008, at 21h14 local time the Indlebe Radio Telescope, situated on the Steve Biko campus of the Durban University of Technology, successfully detected its first radio source from beyond the solar system. A strong source was detected from Sagittarius A, the centre of the Milky Way Galaxy, approximately 30 thousand light years away.

 

[Berserker]

its

No comprende. Feel free to explain.

I know seti looks in that part of the spectrum but they should try more normal frequencies like we use, how do they expect to pick up aliens leaking signals in just a short frequency when we use allsorts, they need to widen their search.

SETI has long carried out searches across many frequency bands, but at low sensitivity. The current high sensitivity narrowband search around the hydrogen line takes so much CPU power that additional frequences are impractical with today's techology. However, they are just ramping up an additional broad-spectrum search to complement the existing searches.

The reason for the choice of the hydrogen line - it's reasonably clear from background radio noise, and what there is there is easy to distinguish as natural. The search assumes that any signal to be received is one that ET sent specifically for that purpose, so it makes sense to assume they'd know the same as we do about the best place to use in the radio spectrum.

Anyway, back to the OP, no surprises there other than that they actually picked up the signal. The universe is awash with natural radio sources.

 

[Kaed]

Surely as has been stated this sort of thing happens all the time. So 'something' must have occurred to make this 'newsworthy' ?

Can't help but remember Terry Bisson's short story though
http://www.terrybisson.com/meat.html

 

[BloodyL]

Surely as has been stated this sort of thing happens all the time. So 'something' must have occurred to make this 'newsworthy' ?

Can't help but remember Terry Bisson's short story though
http://www.terrybisson.com/meat.html

Lol, I made a short radio play out of that story a while back, it was awful but then I'm no voice talent.

 

[Kristoph]

Interesting fact:

However, to put this achievement into perspective, the energy gained by a grain of rice falling 2 cm in the earth’s mavity to a plate is more than the total energy received by all the radio telescopes in the world operating since 1960. This means that very sensitive radio receiving equipment is required to detect these faint sources.