The search for extra-terrestrial life continues as an astrophysicist from the University of Western Sydney (UWS) uses optical telescopes to detect signals.
Dr Ragbir Bhathal, from the UWS School of Engineering, will hold a presentation on August 27 to explain the ways that scientists have been searching for signs of extra-terrestrial life since the 1960’s – which, up until 10 years ago, required the use of radio telescopes.
“The radio search method has not detected any signals great or small from extra-terrestrials. So about 10 years ago a group of us began to search for extra-terrestrials using optical telescopes,” Dr Bhathal said.
“The reason behind this is that extra-terrestrials are likely to be much more advanced than us.
“So, to them, radio wave technology would be very old. It is much more likely that they would be using laser pulses to communicate with other intergalactic civilisations.”
Dr Bhathal, who is also the Director of the Australian Optical SETI Project, is the only researcher in the Southern Hemisphere who is participating in the search for these extra-terrestrial laser flash communications.
His latest findings in the search for extra-terrestrials and life in the universe will be the basis of his presentation on Saturday, August 27 at the Astronomy Night at the UWS Observatory at Werrington.
For more information, contact Roslyn McCourt on 4736 0135 or email [email protected].
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