LaserSETI Expands: New Station in Puerto Rico and Spotlight in London

A new era in optical SETI

The LaserSETI project, a pioneering initiative from the SETI Institute, continues to push the boundaries of optical SETI search using visible light. LaserSETI is designed to detect optical technosignatures, rather than the radio technosignatures searched for with the ATA and VLA.

SETI Institute Deputy Director Dr. Simon Steel and LaserSETI Outreach Manager Dr. Lauren Sgro joined SETI Institute Communications Specialist Beth Johnson in a conversation to share major updates on the upcoming installation of a new LaserSETI station in Puerto Rico and the installation of a fully functional LaserSETI instrument at the Natural History Museum in London.

What is LaserSETI?

LaserSETI uses a global network of compact telescopes to monitor the sky for millisecond-duration laser flashes. These pulses, if detected, would not match the typical spectrum of known astrophysical sources. Instead of showing the full spread of colors from starlight, a laser pulse would appear as a single, narrow wavelength. Since optical lasers don’t appear in nature, detecting one would indicate either a new astrophysical process or an artificial origin.

Each LaserSETI station contains two cameras equipped with diffraction gratings to separate incoming light into its component wavelengths. These instruments are small, no taller than an average person, and built using mostly off-the-shelf parts. Their modular design allows for affordable scaling and global deployment.

Expanding LaserSETI’s Global Coverage

LaserSETI’s sky coverage has grown significantly. Before 2024, the project had sites in California and Hawaii, covering roughly 19% of the night sky. In 2024, a new station in Sedona, Arizona, went online, increasing that coverage to nearly 30%. Now, LaserSETI is poised to expand coverage further with the installation of a station in Puerto Rico.

These instruments have been shipped and are currently awaiting rooftop installation on the island of Magueyes, in collaboration with the University of Puerto Rico. Once operational, they will add new observational regions, bringing the network closer to continuous, all-sky coverage. Each location is strategically placed to ensure partially overlapping fields of view, enabling cross-verification of potential signals.

LaserSETI on Display at the Natural History Museum, London

One of the most exciting recognitions of LaserSETI came from the Natural History Museum in London, where a real LaserSETI instrument is now on display as part of the "Space: Could Life Exist Beyond Earth?" exhibit.

The exhibit traces the timeline of life: from stromatolites (fossilized microbial mats) to exoplanets and the search for intelligent life. The inclusion of LaserSETI highlights its importance in modern astrobiology and space science.

Unlike other mockups featured in the exhibit, such as models of the Rosalind Franklin Mars rover and the Dragonfly Titan drone, the LaserSETI unit on display is fully functional. After the exhibit concludes in February, it will be deployed to a future observatory site, demonstrating the project’s dual role in both science communication and frontier research.

Technical Specs and Capabilities

The power required to detect laser pulses from distant sources is substantial. Lauren explained that a 100-gigawatt laser, although not currently feasible with Earth’s technology, could be detected by LaserSETI from a distance of five light-years. Such powerful lasers are being discussed for future applications, like the Breakthrough Starshot initiative, which proposes using a 100-gigawatt laser to propel spacecraft to Alpha Centauri. The Psyche mission, which utilizes laser communication instead of radio, further demonstrates the viability of optical communication for transmitting large amounts of information.

The LaserSETI instrument employs off-the-shelf CCD (Charge-Coupled Device) cameras, focusing on visible light and a small range of near-infrared light. This choice simplifies duplication and allows for the creation of a vast network of affordable instruments. The initial design costs for a LaserSETI instrument were approximately $30,000 USD, with specialized components such as the 3D-printed housing and grating, while other parts are readily available.

The future of LaserSETI

LaserSETI aims to involve the public through citizen science initiatives. While no opportunities are currently available, the team is actively working to make the collected data publicly accessible for analysis. This approach aligns with SETI’s commitment to open science and community involvement, echoing the project’s crowdsourced origins.

Lauren emphasized the value of community: “It started with community funding, and we’re hoping to move into the direction of community science.” As installations expand and data systems evolve, public engagement will become a crucial element of the project’s next phase.

The LaserSETI project represents a dynamic and evolving aspect of the search for extraterrestrial intelligence. With expanding global coverage, advanced technology, and a commitment to public engagement, LaserSETI continues to push the boundaries of discovery, inviting scientists and citizens alike to participate in the quest for life beyond Earth.

Watch the full conversation with Dr. Simon Steel and Dr. Lauren Sgro to learn more about the new advancements in LaserSETI.