An Anomalous SETI Signal

NASA ^ | Feb. 6, 2011 | SETI/NASA

[The Comedian]

Explanation: No one knows for sure what caused this signal.

There is a slight possibility that it just might originate from an extraterrestrial intelligence.

The bright colors on the blue background indicate that an anomalous signal was received here on Earth by a radio telescope involved in a Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence (SETI).

A search for these signals is ongoing by several groups including volunteer members of the SETI League.

Time labels the vertical axis of the above plot, and frequency marks the horizontal axis.

Although this strong signal was never positively identified, astronomers have identified in it many attributes characteristic of a more mundane and ultimately terrestrial origin.

In this case, a leading possibility is that the signal originates from an unusual modulation between a GPS satellite and an unidentified Earth-based source.

Many unusual signals from space remain unidentified.

No signal has yet been strong enough or run long enough to be unambiguously identified as originating from an extraterrestrial intelligence.

(image at link)

[The Magical Mischief Tour]

You know, speaking of TV, you have to admit if you were an alien civilization and you knew nothing of us but you started to catalog and review the TV transmission from Earth and began drawing conclusions of our civilization as a whole I'd think it would scare the living shit out of you.

Heck you might not even want to come anywhere near our part of the solar system thinking we'd annihilate you. Just like we have done nearly every other aline race that has tried to "invade us"... in the movies, that is.

We even blew up the Death Star!

[Frantzie]

Instead of seeing dead people, Kucinich sees a dead congressional district. I wonder if his hot wife will stick around.

[Melchior]

Actually, it was a message sent by Osama bin Laden.

[budwiesest]

“The number you have reached is no longer in service. Please hang up and try your call again.”

[Quix]

THX THX.

[JoeProBono]

[Michael Barnes]

Quantum based.

[cicero2k]

No one takes them seriously anymore. NASA was good when the Germans ran it.

Yes. And our Germans were better than their Germans.

[The Comedian]

They could be posting on this very thread, and we'd never know...

Today is a good day to die.
I didn't say for whom.

[Flightdeck]

“... and claiming their is water on Mars or the Moon. Total effing joke.”

There is water on Mars and the moon.

[geege]

You just reminded me of Dom DeLuise on Planet Koozebane:0)

[Buckeye Battle Cry]

“They could be all around us and we’d never know it.”

BINGO! Imagine that recently discovered primitive tribe in South America. A team of Navy Seals could surround them and communicate freely with each other and the natives would never be the wiser for it. Their technology is too primitive to identify the technology of a SEAL team. In a like vein, why and how, are we to suppose that we can detect transmissions of vastly superior extra terrestial technology? They could very well be all around us and not want to be detected. If they want us to know they are out there, they can stoop to our level and bang messages out on hollow logs with long sticks.

[SonOfDarkSkies]

That is quite similar (but not an exact match) to the sound the monsters made in the old sci-fi movie "Them" (the sound is at the 3:42 mark on the video).

There is an even better match to another old monster sound, but I can't remember which one.

[backwoods-engineer]

I know a guy who works with high-powered radio transmitters who was sent to sniff out the origin of a out-of-band signal suspected of being from their radio station, because sometimes the content of their station could be heard on a receiver picking up the anomalous signal.

He tracked it down to a rusty barbed-wire cattle fence near his station's transmitter site. The oxides were acting as a diode mixer, mixing together the signal of his radio station (acting as a modulated LO) and another station (I think it was a TV transmitter's color subcarrier, or something, details elude me now), and the fence re-transmitting the new signal.

It wouldn't surprise me if this was something like that.

[Nateman]

Do they at least know the direction from where this came from? You’d think they could focus on that to get some more. I suspect if we ever do get a signal it will be some mundane talk between the aliens that we just accidentally pick up.

[jagusafr]

Have they finally picked up our transmissions of The Honeymooners?

Naw, that’d be closer “to da moon”, I think...

Colonel, USAFR

[Salvavida]

Perhaps its angels warming up. Mat 24:31 And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.

[VeniVidiVici]

Illegal aliens is what it is.

[paulycy]

Two working theories:

1) 

2) 

[SonOfDarkSkies]

That desktop computer is right out of a museum. At least we now know that grays are going through their "retro chic" period. I wonder if he fancies old Mark II's like Inspector Morse...