No, SETI Has Not Detected Alien Signals From Space

The Bad Astronomer writes "Rumors are going around that SETI astronomers have detected possible alien signals from space. Bottom line: signals were detected when the Green Bank Telescope was pointed at target planets discovered by Kepler, but the signals are almost certainly interference from man-made satellites orbiting the Earth. This happens pretty often, so we need to be aware that these kinds of false positives pop up."

Comments

"almost certainly"

[mehrotra.akash]

So, theres still a chance of aliens

Re:"almost certainly"

[ackthpt]

Sure. It could very well be the original broadcasts of 'I Love Kleeg' and 'Zaxak's Island'. It might be quite good, if we could figure out their modulation scheme.

Perhaps if we recklessly go about reverse engineering it and violating their intellectual property rights they'll send their lawyers to us with a C & D letter.

I'm not quite certain that could be viewed as a positive development ... imagine making contact with a civilization where they'd excell at legal thinking and came here to practice law? could be a scary thing.

Re:"almost certainly"

[TheRaven64]

It's a smegging garbage pod!

Re:"almost certainly"

[macromorgan]

Broadcast on all frequencies and all known languages, including Welsh.

I thought you said known languages?

Uh-huh

[warrax_666]

That's just what the aliens want us to believe!

Re:Beh

[discord5]

It's the North Koreans. They're up to something, sure as eggs is eggs.

It is space saying mourning the honorable half-god Kim Jong Il's departure. Spontaneous radio broadcasts from space are known to happen when the heavens weep.

Warning.

[Anonymous Coward]

Phil Plait is the official PR person for the Illuminati's Extra Terrestrial Embassy Group. The goal is to keep the occupation of Earth quiet until such a time that Their footsoldiers are placed at strategic positions around the world. Bodyguards for high ranking politicians and diplomats, military personnel, etc.

He is NOT to be trusted.

Oblig

[should_be_linear]

I, for one, welcome our new satellite-interference-simulating-before-landing-and-raping-us overlords.

Signal Partially Translated

[knarfling]

I have managed to obtain a copy of the signals and have partially translated them. Some of the concepts are untranslatable and I am not completely sure about the things I was able to translate, but here is what I have so far.

My fellow [untranslatable]. It is [concept of time] for [choosing/electing] supreme [unknown concept]. My [friend/acquaintance/opponent] is a [feeble-minded/stupid] [weak/ineffective] [some sort of insect]. [Reminds me/makes me think] of a [not sure here, might be human]. I [pledge/promise] a [small animal] in [each/all/every] [cooking container]. I will [reduce/lower] [required payments/taxes]. [Elect/vote for] Kodos in [unknown time].

Hmmm .... seems like a political speech. No intelligent life out there after all.

Re:Signal Partially Translated

[CapOblivious2010]

I heard it was something like:

Dear [Planetary Inhabitants], I am a [wealthy] [royalty] who is in need of your assistance in transferring a large amount of [monetary units] from my planet to yours. Please send me your [monetary management system]'s [identification schema] so that I may complete this transfer

Re:Call me an idiot ...

[wideBlueSkies]

Are we pointing at Epsilon Erindi? Could we be reading the Great Machine?

Re:OK, so nobody has let us know abou them

[Hartree]

So, you're saying:

    1. Find aliens.

    2. Announce to world.

    3. ...

    4. ...

    5. Profit!