First Look at Kepler SETI Candidate Signals

UC Berkeley ^

[LibWhacker]

We've started searching our Kepler SETI observations and our analyses have generated some of our first candidate signals. Each of the signals below is shown in a pair of plots, one from an observation of Kepler Object of Interest (KOI) 817 and one from an observation of KOI-812. During an observation, we alternated between targets to enable us to rule out signals seen coming from two different places in the sky. If we see a signal coming from multiple positions on the sky, it is very likely to be interference.

What do these plots represent?

These are plots of electromagnetic energy as a function of frequency and time. Brighter colors represent more radio energy at a particular time and frequency. For example, a radio station transmitting at 101.5 MHz would produce a large amount of energy near that frequency.

Why are these signals interesting?

These signals look similar to what we think might be produced from an extraterrestrial technology. They are narrow in frequency, much narrower than would be produced by any known astrophysical phenomena, and they drift in frequency with time, as we would expect because of the doppler effect imposed by the relative motion of the transmitter and the receiving radio telescope.

Download all 12 candidate signals in a .pdf file.

[BCR #226]

Very cool images.

[ThePatriotsFlag]

SETI is fun to watch on your computer as it crunches actual data.

[Liberty Tree Surgeon]

Reading the source article, it differs WILDLY in the conclusion, namely, the source article states emphatically that these are all radio interference from earthly sources, not in any way ET in origin. Why the editing for the post?

[LibWhacker]

The editing was on their end. I posted the article exactly as it appeared on their website. Yeah, it was not written very well. They admit that. It confused a lot of people, me included (sorry).

[Liberty Tree Surgeon]

My sincere apologies!