For over 35 years the search for extraterrestrial intelligence (SETI) has concentrated on the microwave approach to the search for artificial signals. The intelligent origin of microwave signals is readily established by spectroscopy through the sharply defined bandwidth in which signals will likely occur, the Doppler shift, the fact that the signals will likely be highly polarized, and the fact that they will likely exhibit a well-defined and "unnatural" modulation. The ASRG research project uses a hydrogen-line radiotelescope constructed for Project Argus (Project Argus Station EM77to), a sky survey coordinated by the SETI League.

For researchers in the field, SETI has periods of extreme excitement. SETI also provides moments of satisfaction in a job well done, even when a search comes up empty. In some ways SETI can be a solitary and laborious activity. Some aspects of data analysis in SETI can fatigue humans to the point where errors occur and signals might be missed. The ASRG uses computer algorithms to scan all of the data collected from the radiotelescope. The group is also working with several algorithms to detect weak repeating signals near or below the nominal noise level. Students help by checking occasional files for unusual signals that the computers were not programmed to detect. In this way, the computers can "learn" to recognize increasingly complex signals. Click here for more information on what the students do.

Background Presentation on the Microwave Telescope System

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