SETI Institute

The SETI Observer

In this Edition

•Curl Up With a Good Book - About SETI	•Messages to the Stars
•Woman of Discovery	•Uranean Weather
•Quantum Astronomy - the Mini Series	•SETI Challenge
	•Last Month's Challenge

Dear SETI Enthusiast,

During this festive holiday season, science at the SETI Institute continues unabated, although our dedicated scientists and staff do partake of the bountiful cheer found in our offices. And for all of us at the Institute, this holiday season brings special and warm moments of cheer as, one by one, staff bring by their beautiful little babies - we've had six births this past year in our extended Institute family!

SETI Institute scientists continue to win recognition amongst their peers and the public for their contributions to human knowledge. Dr. Nathalie Cabrol’s recent award, and Dr. Kathy Rages’ discovery of Uranean clouds, typify the quality of work performed under the SETI Institute auspices. Drs. Laurence Doyle’s and Seth Shostak’s articles of explanation of physics and astronomy for the public continue our mission of education and public involvement in science. This theme of science education was explored in discussion with Neil de Grasse Tyson of the Hayden Planetarium in New York on a recent broadcast of the SETI Institute’s Are We Alone? radio program.

One of the most pleasurable aspects of this time of year is the contemplation of the "perfect gift" for family members and friends. Edna deVore’s list of SETI-related books is a treasure trove of ideas for the scientifically-minded recipient. A gift membership to TeamSETI is also worth considering for your list.

All of us at the SETI Institute wish you and your family the season’s best and very happy holidays.

Thomas Pierson
CEO, SETI Institute

	Curl Up With a Good Book - About SETI
	Edna DeVore, Director of Education and Public Outreach at the SETI Institute, has compiled a reading list of excellent books about SETI and SETI scientists that covers many reading and interest levels. Find the right match at Sharing SETI

	Woman of Discovery
	Congratulations to Dr. Nathalie Cabrol, a SETI Institute Principal Investigator, for being named a winner of the Wings Women of Discovery award, given to celebrated women explorers. Nathalie was honored for her research seeking evidence of water on Mars. More information on the Nathalie’s research and the award can be found at Women of Discovery Award

	Quantum Astronomy - the Mini Series
	Join Dr. Laurence Doyle in a four part series of articles exploring the principles of quantum physics in the astronomy world. The first in the series is available at Quantum Astronomy Part 1 The second installment can be read at Quantum Astronomy Part 2 The third installment can be read at Quantum Astronomy Part 3 Look for the final article in coming weeks.

	Messages to the Stars
	Should we be thinking about sending as well as trying to receive interstellar messages? Dr. Seth Shostak contemplates this question and shares his reflections in his thought provoking article "What Do You Say To an Extraterrestrial?".

	Uranean Weather
	SETI scientist Dr. Kathy Rages and her colleagues, using the Hubble Space Telescope, have found a long-lived cloud feature on Uranus for the first time, sparking new interest in the far-off planet and its possible weather patterns. Read more about this research at Long-Lived Bright Cloud Tracked on Uranus

SETI Challenge

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.

"Non-commuting observables" are:

1. Persons who stay at home and watch television

2. A principle of quantum physics also known as "complimentary pairs"

3. An expression of the value of momentum in scientific experimentation

4. Motionless stars in the galaxy

Previous Challenge

Congratulations to Thomas Webber, Richie Hogan, Rick Yessayian, Larry Cohbra, Richard Fernandes, and Luke English! They are the winners of the previous Challenge, where we asked you to choose the phrase that best completed the following statement:

Using rockets for interstellar messaging:

1. Is the most time-efficient method.

2. Is most likely to be an alien civilization’s choice for data transmission.

3. May cost more than radio/light transmission if the rocketry, fuel, and other "packaging" costs are included.

4. Makes it easier for recipients to decipher the message.

The correct answer was: 3

Watch for another thought-provoking question in next month's e-newsletter.

You don't need a local radio station to listen to the SETI Institute’s weekly radio show "Are We Alone?". For access, information on the next program, and show archives, visit "Are We Alone? " at the SETI Institute website.

Not yet a TeamSETI member? Show your interest and support of the SETI Institute’s projects and programs by joining TeamSETI. To sign up, click here .

*All individuals are eligible to win the SETI Challenge except SETI Institute staff members and their immediate family members or individuals who have submitted a winning entry within a 12 month period from the date of the current contest.

Email:newsletter@seti.org