The SETI Observer

Dear SETI Enthusiasts:

Earth's gentle tilt triggers seasonal changes that can be brutal where some of you live, or mild, as they are here in Mountain View. Tree branches outside the Institute are bare, and the asphalt parking lot is slicked with rain; twilight overtakes the workday by late afternoon, and the staff heads for home in lingering darkness. For many, the December holidays offer warm respite from seasonal gloom.

We festoon our buildings with lights, and then huddle together against the cold of winter to celebrate family and friendship. At this time of year our half of the globe leans away from the sun, and we lean towards each other, stretching our concept of kinship to include all humanity as we strive for peace by focusing on commonality, rather than difference.

Perhaps this is why the SETI Institute mission takes on special significance for me during this month. The tiny constellations of winking holiday lights everywhere are reminiscent of the stars in our galaxy. Our own average yellow star is remarkable only to us because it serves as the congenial host to our life-bearing planet. Infinitely small and infinitely precious, Earth is better known to us today than ever, yet remains filled with mystery and ripe for exploration. This holds equally true for the wondrous vastness of space.

The Institute's Dr. Christopher Chyba describes SETI science as an endeavor that reflects "the best of what it is to be human." Our intellect and our aspirations lead us to explore Earth and all that stretches beyond our horizons for knowledge we may not predict, but know with certainty, will be significant. There is much to be learned both on and beyond our blue planet, with its off-kilter orbital axis that gives us seasonal variation, winter holidays, and life’s mysteries to ponder.

During this season I realize that the knowledge we seek would be meaningless without community, without shared wonder. And our global village will be enriched by a better understanding of our origins and the enormous cosmic neighborhood we inhabit. Thus, the mission of the SETI Institute.

To all of you and yours from all of us at the SETI Institute, I wish you peace and joy this holiday season. I now invite you to explore the links of this SETI Observer.

Warmest regards,

Thomas Pierson
Chief Executive Officer

Be one of the first five to answer the following question correctly and get a cool SETI Institute t-shirt. We'll post the answer in next month's e-newsletter. Choose the phrase that best completes this statement and send your answer to newsletter@seti.org.

Kent Cullers became a SETI scientist after he

1. "hung out" at NASA Ames when SETI was a NASA project.
2. helped to write part of the movie script for Contact.
3. attended a Greek wedding where he met Jill Tarter.
4. read the Cyclops report written by Bernard M. Oliver.

Last month we asked readers to pick the phrase that most accurately completed this statement:

The Leonids' meteor shower is:

1. a rare celestial phenomena that can be observed only by professional astronomers using airborne observing equipment.
2. a party for expectant lions.
3. caused by solar winds.
4. an annual celestial phenomena that will be intense this year and will offer amateur astronomers an opportunity to record data that is useful to professional astronomers.

The answer is D. Some readers answered A; while it is true that Peter Jenniskens led a team of professional astronomers on an airborne mission to study the Leonids, amateurs were encouraged to participate by submitting data they recorded from their land based observations.

Finally, thank you, Skip Newhall for noting that an incorrect use of the word “phenomena” which is plural, slipped past us! In both A and D, the correct word would have been "phenomenon," which is singular. Proper use of the English language was a subject dear to the heart of the late SETI pioneer, Bernard M. Oliver whose book, Modern English Misusage promotes intelligent communication here on Earth.