Search for Intelligent Life

1.Possibility of intelligent life outside of earth- Drake Equation- An early Approach to solving the statistical problem of determining how many advanced civilizations are out in space. *** The mere presence of human indicates that this number can not be ZERO!!!

1.Possibility of intelligent life outside of earth (cont.) Drake Equation Number of Technological, intelligent civilizations now present in the universe = A. Rate of star Formation averaged over the life time of a galaxy B. Fraction of stars having planets C. Average number of habitable planets within those planetary systems D. Fraction of those planets on which life arises E. Fraction of those life bearing planets on which intelligent life evolves F. Fraction of those intelligent life planets that develop a technological society G. Average lifetime of a technologically competent society A-100 billion stars over 10 billion years gives us an average of about 10 stars a year- Probably not too far of form actual value B-F are up too speculation and become even harder to predict as we go towards F.

Habitable zones of Different Types of Stars

2. Searching for Life - The most likely source of finding Extra terrestrial Intelligent life is by listening for them. - SETI (Search for Extra Terrestrial Intelligence) Privately funded search for E.T. US Government also listens for any type of Radio wave coming from a particular part of the sky that shows a pattern. - Radio waves are used because other frequencies of Electromagnetic Radiation (UV light, Visible Light, etc) are heavily scattered as it moves through space - The Earth now emits more radio waves then the Sun - PROBLEM: Even light travels too slowly to have any hopes of communicating with our nearest neighbors Ex. Average distance between stars in our galaxy is about 100 light years. So it would take 200 years to have a conversation with a CLOSE neighbor

2. Searching for Life Visiting other Worlds??? Our Fastest Probe travels at the speed of 50 Km/s at this pace the nearest star (Alpha Centuri) would take 50,000 years to get to. - Some of our Earliest Probes (Pioneer 10, Voyager 1+2) are just now leaving the Solar system and they were launched almost 30 years ago - Is it Even a good idea to establish direct contact with Extra Terrestrials if it is made possible???

Earth’s Radio Signals From Space

Large Radio Telescope- One of Many used in SETI Project

Pioneer 10 Gold Plaque (Similar to Voyager Plaque’s)