Date: Mon, 12 Oct 92 05:00:02 From: Space Digest maintainer Reply-To: Space-request@isu.isunet.edu Subject: Space Digest V15 #308 To: Space Digest Readers Precedence: bulk Space Digest Mon, 12 Oct 92 Volume 15 : Issue 308 Today's Topics: A Brief History of Time (movie) GMT of Sputnik 1 Launch? HRMS/SETI Answers Lecture Summary: What if SETI Succeeds, myth that we're prepared (long) Mars Observer info? MO TCM-1 Pioneer Venus Update - 10/09/92 (End of Mission) (4 msgs) Space.gifs THE FIRST INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON OPTICAL SETI Welcome to the Space Digest!! Please send your messages to "space@isu.isunet.edu", and (un)subscription requests of the form "Subscribe Space " to one of these addresses: listserv@uga (BITNET), rice::boyle (SPAN/NSInet), utadnx::utspan::rice::boyle (THENET), or space-REQUEST@isu.isunet.edu (Internet). ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: 11 Oct 92 06:22:39 GMT From: "James T. Green" Subject: A Brief History of Time (movie) Newsgroups: sci.space markb@spock.dis.cccd.edu (Mark Bixby) speakith unto us: > >"A Brief History of Time" is a quite fascinating movie. No extensive knowledge >of cosmology is required to enjoy it. Stephen Hawking does a lot of "talking", >but doesn't actually narrate the film. >-- Does anyone know when this will be out on Videotape? At any rate whenever it does come out, please post it here (San Luis Obispo is at the edge of the Universe when it comes to such things). /~~~(-: James T. Green :-)~~~~(-: jgreen@eros.calpoly.edu :-)~~~\ | If the official Republican platform is carried out, | | a 13 year old girl who becomes pregnant as a result of being | | raped by her father, and who has an abortion, could end up | | in the gas chamber. | ------------------------------ Date: 10 Oct 92 16:55:22 GMT From: Bruce Watson Subject: GMT of Sputnik 1 Launch? Newsgroups: sci.space In article Subject: HRMS/SETI Answers Newsgroups: sci.space,sci.astro sharma@nrcphy1.phy.nrc.ca (Rohit Sharma) writes: >In article <1992Oct9.145536.19786@elroy.jpl.nasa.gov> eto@elroy.jpl.nasa.gov (Edward T. Olsen) writes: > >>solar type stars within 25 pc (there are nearly 800) over the >>microwave spectrum between 1 GHz and 3 GHz at 1 Hz resolution. > ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ > why this particular portion of the mw spectrum ? This part of the microwave spectrum is the least noisy. Moreover, SETI folks being the poetic people they are, this band includes the microwave "Water-hole." :-) :-) (An H emission line exists at 1420 MHz and a set of four OH lines clustered about 1670 MHz, if memory serves.) Some searches in the past have been conducted inside the water hole, and at other magic frequencies such as 2x 1420 MHz. (Good luck, Ed.) Kok Chen, AA6TY kchen@apple.com Apple Computer, Inc. ------------------------------ Date: 11 Oct 92 16:42:30 GMT From: Tom A Baker Subject: Lecture Summary: What if SETI Succeeds, myth that we're prepared (long) Newsgroups: sci.space September Lecture Summary - Boston Chapter, National Space Society by Roxanne R. Warniers September's presentation was given by Frank White, author of the two current books Overview Effect and The SETI Factor, and his upcoming book International Space. Mr. White presented two ideas for open discussion: 1) Myths in our way of being prepared for SETI contact, and 2) "Personal Space" and the importance of low cost access to orbit. Contact Myths NASA's SETI project is set to begin in October, to coincide with the 500th anniversary of Columbus's discovery of America. Should this project succeed in finding evidence of extra-terrestrial intelligence, most people would have to agree with Mr. White that the impact on human culture would be enormous. At our meeting, he proposed that many myths stand in our way of being effectively prepared for this contact. A lively discussion ensued involving a wide-ranging review of world history as everyone attempted to find precedents for 'first contact.' We tend to assume now that contact will be positive, Mr. White commented, a over-reaction to the early days of TV and Radio representations of evil aliens. But the contact might not be positive... Another common assumption is that the populace of Earth would bind together in the face of alien contact - Mr. White doesn't think that would necessarily be the case. If the aliens were clearly malevolent, we might bind together, although Mr. White and our group recounted stories of American Indian tribes who did not come together in the face of the expansionist colonies. Instead, they sought alliances with the various groups (American, English, French, and British) to better defeat their tribal enemies. A benign contact could be very problematic too. If the aliens appear peaceful, and even helpful, we may polarize into groups in order to procure an alliance to defeat our earthly enemies. "Benign" is also subject to various interpretation, as our group remembered well-intentioned missionaries who forced religion on the people and inadvertently decimated populations with their common diseases. An alien contact could also be mischievous or deceptive. It would be very hard to determine intent from any message. Personal Space In the second part of Frank White's open discussion, he talked about his new passion - the idea of 'Personal Space' and the importance of low cost access to orbit. In his previous writings, Mr. White's thought have evolved from national space to international space; for him, the next step is Personal Space. Mr. White sees a major problem in our space programs today because there is no public excitement and no personal interest. The current space program has no specific, easily-identified goal, unlike the space race in the 1950's and 1960's that mobilized an entire country, allocating resources, gearing education more towards math and science, and funding research. We should change the priority of the purpose of space program to get the maximum number of people into space, according to Mr. White. More people would be interested in Space program if they could have a better chance to go themselves. He identifies people's desire/need to be 'out there' themselves as "Personal Space." White used the analogy of personal computers to better explain Personal Space. Large computers lumbered along for many years but were inaccessible except to the 'elite'. With the advent of personal computers, a much larger segment of the population has access to computers. These small computers have become a necessity to our culture, and life without them would be significantly less productive, if not less rewarding. White believes that if people were given access to space in the same ways as PCs provided access to computing power, they would come to cherish and demand the extra freedom. Low Cost Access The major obstacle to giving people access to space is its high cost. A substantial percent of this high cost is dedicated to achieving Earth orbit. Frank White believes the cost of achieving orbit must come down if Personal Space if ever to take off. His ideal cost for individual transportation to Earth orbit would be similar to the price of a plane ticket between Boston and New York. What model would move the space movement toward giving high priority to the goal of low cast access to orbit and Personal Space? Mr. White suggested one model similar to the beginning of first commercially successful personal computers, where Steven Jobs and Steven Wozniak built the Apple computer in their garage. Although everyone agreed that space flight required more technology and capital than a few entrepreneurs could easily assemble. Mr. White prefers a second model. He suggested that a mass grass-roots movement, similar to the civil rights movement, would produce the best results. He says that when people begin to see space as a freedom not to be denied, and low cost access as a natural individual right, public sentiment would readily support the same kind of vision that got us to the moon in 1969. We take for granted our right to leave our country, but the planet may be our prison and we don't have the technology to leave it yet. "If we cannot leave" he says, "we cannot go to our next step" in evolution. Mr. White notes that some have responded with apprehension to popular access to space. Many of these people prefer a space expansion similar to current management of Antarctic exploration, where it is shared by all, but accessible to only the academic elite. The underlying philosophy here is that humans cannot be trusted. Frank White acknowledges that a policy of PersonalSpace will send forth the good and the bad free spirits, but we must trust our ability to handle it. After all, those emissaries are only natural; we are the human race. Frank White is a Rhodes Scholar and a Senior Associate at the Space Studies Institute in Princeton, New Jersey, as well as a senior consultant on space and high technology issues for Hill & Knowlton. In addition, Mr. White gave the banquet speech at 1992 national NSS Conference. This article is copyrighted (C) by its author, 1992. Excerpts cannot be used, except for reviews and criticisms, without written permission of NSS, Boston Chapter. (We will try to respond by e-mail within two business days.) "Space Views", the newsletter, is sent monthly over the Internet, BIX and America Online, by request. There is a subscription charge. If interested, contact this poster. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ____ | National Space Society is a Space Views // \ // | nonprofit public organization // (O) // | dedicated to the establishment // \___// | of a spacefaring civilization. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- --------------------------------------.-------------------------------------- Net - tombaker@world.std.com __ | National Space Society is a nonprofit uucp - uunet!world!tombaker / \ / | public organization dedicated to BIX - tombaker / O / | promoting the eventual establishment AOL - TABaker@aol.com / \__/ | of a spacefaring civilization. ______________________________________|______________________________________ ------------------------------ Date: 11 Oct 92 20:08:15 GMT From: Steve Collins Subject: Mars Observer info? Newsgroups: sci.space,alt.sci.planetary From the standpoint of attitude control, pointing the MOC at a moon is possible but rather tricky. MO can hold an inertial attitude and slew about a fixed body axis, to provide some motion compensation, the hard part is doing this whileiBJJ'>s meeting several constraints we have on attitude. The camera can't bee pointed too close to the sun, and we can't have the array away from the sun for too long. Since this sort of thing interrups our normal mapping and Mars atmospheric data collection, several science teams would prefer we didn't. If we are still up and running at the end of the nominal mission, there is a good chance we will attempt to do some stuff like that. From an AACS point of view it probably possible, I don't really know how close we get, so I'm not sure what kind of picture might be possible. I have heard talk about trying to get hi res pictures of the viking landing sites, though... steve Collins MO Spacecraft Team (AACS) ------------------------------ Date: 11 Oct 92 20:19:53 GMT From: Steve Collins Subject: MO TCM-1 Newsgroups: sci.space,alt.sci.planetary We performed Mars Observer TCM-1 last night. Everything went remarkably well. The on board accelerometers indicated that the 490 N engines shut down at the intended 50.0 m/sec delta-V. The first look from the NAV team indicates that our actual delta-V may be slightly smaller. We had a few tense moments when we failed to receive telemetry at the expected time following the burn, but DSN achieved lock after a few minutes and the spacecraft was in the correct configuration. We returned to Array Normal Spin without incident and when I left (about 2:30 am PDT) we were processing stars normally. This was a big milestone for us and everyone from JPL and GE are very happy. Steve Collins MO Spacecraft Team (AACS) ------------------------------ Date: 11 Oct 92 15:00:25 GMT From: Joe Cain Subject: Pioneer Venus Update - 10/09/92 (End of Mission) Newsgroups: sci.space,sci.astro,alt.sci.planetary In article <1992Oct11.054006.22953@elroy.jpl.nasa.gov> baalke@kelvin.jpl.nasa.gov writes: > > October 6 - Pioneer Venus survived periapsis on orbit 5054, at an > altitude of 130.8 km and a drag of 0.91 m/s. > > October 7 - Pioneer Venus survived periapsis on orbit 5055, > at an altitude of 128.9 km and a drag of 1.9 m/s. The estimated periapsis altitude of the final > orbit was 128.0 km, and the final estimated drag was at > 2.5 m/s. Without starting a long thread for naive questions, could someone explain how the spacecraft could have lasted so long considering that generally those in LEO disappear around 180 km where the number density (if I read the tables in Chamberlain and Hunten's "Planetary Atmospheres" correctly) is about 10E10/cm^3, whereas Venus appears to have nearly 10E12/cm^3 (of CO2) at 130 km? Similar levels of those at Earth's 180 km would seem to be reached on Venus near 150 km. Was it not near circular by this time? I would have thought that there would have been significant and perhaps destructive heating sooner. Joseph Cain cain@geomag.gly.fsu.edu cain@fsu.bitnet scri::cain ------------------------------ Date: 11 Oct 92 16:45:37 GMT From: moroney@ramblr.enet.dec.com Subject: Pioneer Venus Update - 10/09/92 (End of Mission) Newsgroups: sci.space,sci.astro,alt.sci.planetary An earlier post suggested that data on Venus's atmosphere would be gathered upon reentry. I take it that since the probe re-entered on the far side and was lost, no data was gathered? -Mike ------------------------------ Date: 11 Oct 92 20:00:14 GMT From: Chris Jones Subject: Pioneer Venus Update - 10/09/92 (End of Mission) Newsgroups: sci.space,sci.astro In article <1992Oct11.155039.17357@engage.pko.dec.com>, moroney@ramblr writes: >An earlier post suggested that data on Venus's atmosphere would be gathered >upon reentry. I take it that since the probe re-entered on the far side and >was lost, no data was gathered? I believe the very act of entering the atmosphere enabled data to be gathered. As was posted here in <1992Oct11.054006.22953@elroy.jpl.nasa.gov>, presumably the article which you are following up, measurements were taken of PVO's periapsis and the drag encountered as it dipped into the Venusian atmosphere on each orbit. -- Chris Jones clj@ksr.com ------------------------------ Date: 11 Oct 92 21:48:40 GMT From: David Knapp Subject: Pioneer Venus Update - 10/09/92 (End of Mission) Newsgroups: sci.space,sci.astro,alt.sci.planetary In article <1992Oct11.155039.17357@engage.pko.dec.com> moroney@ramblr.enet.dec.com writes: >An earlier post suggested that data on Venus's atmosphere would be gathered >upon reentry. I take it that since the probe re-entered on the far side and >was lost, no data was gathered? > >-Mike Data were gathered but at a low s/n. This was the fluorescnec of collisionally excited gases. We did see some lyman alpha and hints of perhaps CO 4+ but this is up for further analysis. There were only two or three orbits which dipped deep enough to see this fluorescence. More later as the data are deconvolved. -- David Knapp University of Colorado, Boulder Perpetual Student knapp@spot.colorado.edu ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 11 Oct 92 12:17:11 MST From: Micky Brus Subject: Space.gifs Just needing some help in reading gifs. I have downloaded some space gifs from Ames, but can`t get them to work on my gif reader. I am using Cshow and have not had trouble reading gifs until I tried the ones that are downloaded of f Internet. I use binary mode instead of ascii. Is there anything that I am missing? Thanks for your help. ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 11 Oct 1992 13:43:10 GMT From: Stuart A Kingsley Subject: THE FIRST INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON OPTICAL SETI Newsgroups: sci.astro,sci.space From the author of the January 1992 six-part EJASA (THE ELECTRONIC JOURNAL OF THE ASTRONOMICAL SOCIETY OF THE ATLANTIC) article (Vol. 3, No. 6A-6F) on Optical SETI (OSETI). The following material, which has been slightly modified, was featured in the October 1992 issue of EJASA (Vol. 4, No. 3): FIRST INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON OPTICAL SETI Dr. Stuart A. Kingsley As a result of the January EJASA article and floppy disk versions that I mailed to key members of the laser communications community, I was asked during the summer by Dr. David L. Begley of Ball Aerospace Systems Group, to organize a conference on Optical SETI for SPIE (The International Society of Optical Engineering). Dr. David Begley is the previous chairman of the Free-Space Laser Communications conferences. The SETI conference was originally planned to be a single session in SPIE's Free-Space Laser Communication Technologies V conference, chaired by Dr. Stephen Mecherle of TRW, Inc. Twelve months ago, I would not have believed that one year after publication of the EJASA article, we would be in the position to organize what is effectively, though unofficially, the First International Conference on Optical SETI. Let it be noted here that the word "optical" is used in a manner familiar to optoelectronics (photonics) engineers and scientists, as an umbrella term. It denotes that part of the spectrum where optical] devices, e.g., lenses, are used for focussing electromagnetic energy. It is a superset of both "visible" and "infrared". Astrophysicists are advised to adopt the more modern definition to avoid confusion in the scientific endeavor called Optical SETI. Thus, the statement "optical and infrared SETI" is incorrect - rather it should be stated as "visible and infrared SETI". The word "optical" is not to be taken as being synonymous with the word "visible", since the former covers all electromagnetic frequencies from the far-infrared to the ultra-violet. Even though the summer vacation period was a difficult time to organize a conference, I was able to get so many papers at short notice, that the single session was extended into a dedicated conference with three sessions and a separate published proceedings (approximately 200 pages). The latter will be available (hopefully) shortly after the conference and will constitute the first publication on this subject. The OSETI conference follows on immediately after the Free-Space Laser Communication Technologies V conference. This SETI event will be of particular interest to laser communications scientists and engineers. It presents the opportunity to help resolve the dichotomy within NASA that while lasers are fine for GEO to GEO, GEO to LEO, deep-space and interstellar communications, ETIs would not use such technology to signal emerging technical civilizations (us). The first session has been devised to bring the laser communications community up to speed on Microwave (Conventional) SETI (MSETI) and general SETI related matters. The second and third sessions are specifically devoted to Optical SETI topics. Since I thought it important to get a variety of opinions as to the veracity of SETI and the efficacy of the optical approach, I have included many shades of opinion. We are fortunate in being able to have Arthur C. Clarke kick off this conference from his home in Sri Lanka. We are working to set up a live international satellite link with Arthur C. Clarke but at a minimum we will have a video-taped address. These days, Clarke's health precludes extensive travelling. We are also investigating the possibility that NASA Select TV could cover the entire conference on a live or taped-delayed basis. If you cannot attend this conference but would like to see it transmitted by NASA Select, write to SPIE and NASA Headquarters requesting this coverage. The more people lobby for this the more likely we will get the cooperation of the concerned parties. For those with a TVRO (TeleVision Receive Only) satellite dish, NASA Select TV is available on Satcom F2R (72 W), Transponder 13. Look out for coverage of the HRMS switch-on on NASA Select TV tomorrow (October 12). The "Grand Old Man" of SETI, Dr. Bernard M. Oliver, who is extremely critical of the optical approach, will demonstrate for the first time to the laser communications community why ETIs would not use lasers for (SETI) interstellar communications. We also have Professor Frank Tipler, a strong critic of SETI, explaining why both Microwave and Optical SETI is a waste of time since he thinks that we are the first civilization in this galaxy. Noted philosopher, Professor Neil Tennant, will present his ideas as to why there could be major problems in actually decoding the message on an ETI signal. There will be a discussion roundtable at the end of the conference, moderated by Nobel laureate Charles Townes (1964 - masers/lasers), who earlier will be talking about his Carbon Dioxide (CO2) Optical SETI laser work, and the CO2 OSETI observations presently being conducted by Dr. Albert Betz on Mt. Wilson. Note, that as with previous SETI publications, the latest SETI book by Frank Drake and Dava Sobel "Is Anyone Out There?" hardly mentions the optical approach. This conference intends to redress that omission. This "controversial" OSETI conference should be a "fun" event but you don't need to be a laser communications engineer or SETI scientist to attend - just a curiosity about "our" place in the grand scheme of things. You are encouraged to remail this material to anyone you know with interests in SETI. You might like to print out the program below and pin it up on your astronomical society, company, faculty, or school notice board. Here now is the Advance Technical Program: OE/LASE '93 THE SEARCH FOR EXTRATERRESTRIAL INTELLIGENCE (SETI) IN THE OPTICAL SPECTRUM SPIE Proceedings Vol. 1867 Location: Los Angeles Airport Hilton Hotel, Los Angeles, California, USA. Conference Chairman: Dr. Stuart A. Kingsley, Fiberdyne Optoelectronics. Co-chair: Dr. Monte Ross, Laser Data Technology, Inc. SESSION 1 - INTRODUCTION AND CONVENTIONAL MICROWAVE SETI Session Chairman - Dr. Stuart A. Kingsley, Fiberdyne Optoelectronics. Thursday, January 21, 1993 Afternoon 1:30 to 6:00 pm "Let there be light" (Keynote Address) Arthur C. Clarke Chancellor - International Space University, Sri Lanka. (30 minutes) Recorded or live video address from his home in Sri Lanka. (1867-01) "The NASA search for evidence of extraterrestrial technologies" (Keynote Paper) David Brocker (30 minutes) Project Manager, HRMS SETI Office NASA Ames Research Center (1867-02) "Strategies for SETI target selection" Dr. David W. Latham and Dr. David R. Soderblom (20 minutes) Dr. David W. Latham Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics Dr. David R. Soderblom Associate Astronomer Space Telescope Science Institute (1867-03) "High-resolution microwave all-sky survey" Dr. Michael J. Klein and Dr. Samuel Gulkis (20 minutes) Dr. Michael J. Klein HRMS Program Manager Jet Propulsion Laboratory Dr. Samuel Gulkis Jet Propulsion Laboratory (1867-04) "SETI - a waste of time!" (Invited Paper) Professor Frank Tipler (30 minutes) Physics Department Tulane University (1867-05) "Using modern analytical philosophy (MAP) to sweep the MOP clean: Non-optical reflections upon untapped data, bad arguments and the nonexistence of Von Neumann interstellar probes." Clive Goodall (30 minutes) Department of Philosophy The Ohio State University (1867-06) "The decoding problem: do we need to search for extra terrestrial intelligence to Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence?" Professor Neil W. Tennant (30 minutes) Department of Philosophy The Ohio State University (1867-07) Evening Reception for the authors from this conference and the Free-Space Laser Communications V conference. SESSION 2 - OPTICAL SETI I Session Chairman - Dr. Monte Ross, Laser Data Technology, Inc. Friday, January 22, 1993 Morning 8:30 to 11:30 am "Fundamental factors affecting the optimum frequency range for SETI" (Invited Paper) Dr. Bernard M. Oliver (30 minutes) Deputy Chief, NASA SETI Office NASA Ames Research Center (1867-08) "The search for extraterrestrial intelligence (SETI) in the optical spectrum and professional optical SETI: a review" Dr. Stuart A. Kingsley (30 minutes) President Fiberdyne Optoelectronics (1867-09) "An economic rationale for extraterrestrials using lasers for SETI" Dr. Monte Ross (20 minutes) President Laser Data Technology, Inc. (1867-10) "Infrared SETI" Professor Charles H. Townes (30 minutes) Department of Physics Space Sciences Laboratory University of California, Berkeley (1867-11) "Use of lasers for interstellar beacons, communications and travel" Dr. John Rather (20 minutes) NASA Headquarters (1867-12) "Optical SETI from the southern hemisphere" Dr. Guillermo A. Lemarchand, Dr. Gregory M. Beskin, Dr. Fernando R. Colomb, and Dr. Mariano Mendez (20 minutes) Dr. Guillermo A. Lemarchand Visiting Fellow Center for Radiophysics and Space Research Cornell University Dr. Gregory M. Beskin Special Astrophysical Observatory Soviet Academy of Science Dr. Fernando Raul Colomb Director Instituto Argentino de Radioastronomia Dr. Mariano Mendez Researcher Observatorio Astronomico de La Plata (1867-13) SESSION 3 - OPTICAL SETI II Session Chairman - Dr. James R. Lesh, Jet Propulsion Laboratory Friday, January 22, 1993 Afternoon 1:00 to 2:00 pm "Application of one measure of search merit to optical SETI" Dr. D. Kent Cullers (20 minutes) Signal Detection Sub-System Manager SETI Project NASA Ames Research Center (1867-14) "Large M-ary pulse position modulation and photon buckets for effective interstellar communications" Dr. Monte Ross (20 minutes) President Laser Data Technology, Inc. (1867-15) "Amateur optical SETI" Dr. Stuart A. Kingsley (20 minutes) President Fiberdyne Optoelectronics (1867-16) Workshop/Panel Discussion 4.00 - 6.00 pm Moderator - Professor Charles H. Townes, University of California, Berkeley. General Discussion Roundtable Possible inclusion of Arthur C. Clarke in discussion via telephone. To receive a copy of the Advance Technical Program from SPIE which also provides information about registration, accommodation and costs to attend this conference (see details below), contact Rosa Cays (rosa@mom.spie.org) or Terry Montonye (terry@mom.spie.org) at: SPIE P.O. Box 10 Bellingham WA 98227-0010 Tel: (206) 676-3290 Fax: (206) 647-1445 The manuscript due date is December 21. It will be possible to accept a couple of late papers on Microwave and Optical SETI if bios and abstracts are submitted to the conference chairman for approval before November 15. For more information and to submit abstracts, Stuart Kingsley can be contacted at: Fiberdyne Optoelectronics 545 Northview Drive Columbus Ohio 43209 Tel: (614) 258-7402 Fax: (614) 258-7459 OSETI Bulletin Board System (BBS): (614) 258-1710 Internet: skingsle@magnus.acs.ohio-state.edu CompuServe: 72376,3545 OE/LASE '93 includes symposia over the period 16-23 January 1993 on the following subjects: Free-Space Laser Communications V (January 20-21, 1993). The Search For Extraterrestrial Intelligence (SETI) in the Optical Spectrum (January 21-22, 1993). Laser Engineering (January 17-22, 1993). Optoelectronic Processing and Interconnects (January 17-23, 1993). Biomedical Optics '93 (January 16-22, 1993). There are also educational short courses (January 17-22, 1993) and two technical exhibitions, the Medical Exhibition (January 16-17, 1993), and the Laser and Sensor Exhibition (January 19-21, 1993). Registration Member Working Non- Group Member Full Conference* $355 $380 $415 Author (full conf.) $290 $310 $340 One day $165 $175 $190 Author (one day) $140 $150 $165 Students (no lunch) $ 60 $N/A $ 70 *Rate for a three-day conference. **There is no separate registration rate for the SETI conference. Attendees for the SETI conference will have to pay for two days. If you can spare the time, attendees are recommended to take in the Wednesday morning and afternoon, and Thursday morning sessions of the Free-Space Laser Communication Technologies V conference, as this technology is very relevant to Optical SETI. The cost for the full conference period (three days) is little more than for the two day OSETI conference alone. SPIE Proceedings Volume 1867 $ 35 These proceedings will also include a copy of Dr. Lesh's large review paper on NASA's optical communications activities, which is to be presented at the Free-Space Laser Communication Technologies V conference. Accommodation Los Angeles Airport Hilton Hotel (OE/LASE '93 Conference Center) 5711 West Century Boulevard Los Angeles, California 90045, USA Tel: (310) 410-4000 Fax: (310) 410-6250 Rates: Single or double (government) $81 Single or double $89 - $109 Los Angeles Airport Marriott Hotel 5855 West Century Boulevard Los Angeles, California 90045, USA Tel: (310) 641-5700 Fax: (310) 337-5358 Rates: Single or double (government) $80 Single or double $85 - $105 NOTE: Articles on SETI have appeared in recent magazine publications, which include the September issue of LIFE magazine, the October issue of ASTRONOMY, and the November/December issue of SMITHSONIAN AIR & SPACE. See also recent issues of TIME and NEWSWEEK. The November issue of SKY & TELESCOPE has a long article by Robert Naeye about Microwave SETI, and mentions the optical approach. This is the first published popular account of OSETI in the printed media. This month, in celebration of the Quincentennial of Columbus' discovery of the Americas and the official start of NASA's Microwave Observing Project (MOP), now renamed the High Resolution Microwave Survey (HRMS), I have begun the construction of what is believed to be the world's first Amateur Optical SETI (AMOSETI) Observatory. This will be based around a Schmidt-Cassegrain telescope of about 10-inch aperture. The telescope will probably be the new Meade LX200, as it is one of the most advanced on the market today for use under computer and CCD control. Thus, Columbus Day (October 12) not only sees the official start for the most detailed Microwave SETI activity to date, but also the start of Amateur Optical SETI. In the last paper of the conference, I will be reporting on the amateur approach to Optical SETI and any work done to date on my observatory system. EJASA will from time to time carry progress reports on this activity and the outcome of the conference. As I indicated in last January's EJASA Optical SETI article, it is my intention that AMOSETI will become a world-wide activity for amateur astronomy groups and societies. In the January 1993 issue of EJASA, there will an addendum to last January's EJASA article, including updated conference program information. This week, SPIE is mailing the full OE/LASE '93 program. Please note the new dedicated fax number for Fiberdyne Optoelectronics. I look forward to meeting with you in Los Angeles in January. Dr. Stuart A. Kingsley October 11, 1992 (T - 1 day to the big switch-on) File: SPIESETI.1 * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Dr. Stuart A. Kingsley, CEng, MIEE, SMIEEE, * * Consultant. * * Member: The Planetary Society, * * Space Studies Institute, * * Columbus Astronomical Society. * * Volunteer: SETI Group, Ohio State. * * * * "Where No Photon Has Gone Before & * * The Impossible Takes A Little Longer" * * __________ * * FIBERDYNE OPTOELECTRONICS / \ * * 545 Northview Drive --- hf >> kT --- * * Columbus, Ohio 43209 \__________/ * * United States * * Tel: (614) 258-7402 .. .. .. .. .. * * Fax: (614) 258-7459 . . . . . . . . . . * * OSETI Bulletin Board System (BBS): .. .. .. .. * * Modem: (614) 258-1710, * * 300-9600 Baud, MNP, 8N1. * * Internet: skingsle@magnus.acs.ohio-state.edu * * CompuServe: 72376,3545 * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * ------------------------------ End of Space Digest Volume 15 : Issue 308 ------------------------------