Creating a "phone-book for ET" (BBC) {SETI/exoplanets—fairly long article}

[eppur_se_muova]

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In 2009 Nasa will launch Kepler, a space telescope with a mission to seek out new worlds. Horizon visited the factory where Kepler is being built, in the company of its creator, Dr Bill Boruki.

Kepler is designed to be sensitive enough to detect Earth-like planets from day one. It will scan an incredible 100,000 stars day and night for four years.
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Out in the desert, 300 miles north of San Francisco, the giant Allen Telescope Array is being built.

Rather than the giant radio telescopes that Seti astronomers have traditionally used, the array is a collection of off-the-shelf radio antennas; all computer-controlled and designed to work as one.

Eventually they aim to build it out to 300 dishes, making it the most powerful attempt yet to listen for an alien message.
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more: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/7275370.stm