help

Comparing Radio Signals from Stars to Those Received by Radio and Television Sets

-- Charles | February 19, 2023

Question:

So I read an article from Earth.com ( https://www.earth.com/news/mysterious-signals-are-aliens-trying-to-contact-earth/?fbclid=IwAR2P-CPZJSzYenIpnWVsDsoVE0TMQPn3xHAz1F9WvIIUhDUxOzDNEIkc5IU ) about radio signals coming from near by Solar Systems 30 to 90 light years distant, and wonder if anybody has ever bothered to hook up a television or actual radio to any of these signals that seem to be promising?
Like if anybody is paying attention out there, they would have noticed electromagnetic signals coming from the third the planet of our star when we were doing atmospheric testing of nuclear weapons. And Might aspire to contact us.

-- Charles

Answer:

A couple of things to note about radio signals that we measure from stars and other objects in the universe and how they compare to radio and television signals we receive with our car radios and television sets. The signals that we measure from space are much weaker than those that can be received by terrestrial radios and televisions. Also, the wavelengths of the emission measured from stars and other objects tends to be much shorter than the transmission wavelengths used for radio and television broadcasts, so that terrestrial radios and televisions are not well tuned to receive radio signals from space.

-- Jeff Mangum

The National Radio Astronomy Observatory is a facility of the U.S. National Science Foundation operated under cooperative agreement by Associated Universities, Inc.
	Founded in 1956, the NRAO provides state-of-the-art radio telescope facilities for use by the international scientific community. NRAO telescopes are open to all astronomers regardless of institutional or national affiliation. Observing time on NRAO telescopes is available on a competitive basis to qualified scientists after evaluation of research proposals on the basis of scientific merit, the capability of the instruments to do the work, and the availability of the telescope during the requested time. NRAO also provides both formal and informal programs in education and public outreach for teachers, students, the general public, and the media.
	The U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) is an independent federal agency created by Congress in 1950 "to promote the progress of science; to advance the national health, prosperity, and welfare; to secure the national defense..."
	AUI collaborates with the scientific community and research sponsors to plan, build, and operate cutting-edge facilities. We cultivate excellence, deliver value, enhance education, and engage the public.