BREAKTHROUGH LISTEN: SETI OBSERVATIONS OF NEARBY STARS AND THE GALACTIC PLANE WITH THE PARKES TELESCOPE

摘要

Breakthrough Listen (BL) is a 10-year, $100M initiative to search for evidence of extraterrestrial intelligence in a scientifically rigorous manner. The ultimate goal: to comprehensively answer whether we are alone in the nearby Universe. Using the Parkes 64-m telescope and Green Bank 100-m radio telescopes, BL is surveying 1709 of the nearest stars (a 50-light-year range), covering all frequencies possible with the receiver suites available. In addition, BL is using the Automated Planet Finder telescope to conduct an optical search for narrowband laser emissions. In this talk, we give an overview of the BL project, with a focus on observations conducted with the Parkes 64-m telescope in NSW, Australia. We introduce the Parkes SETI galactic plane survey, and present details of observations of Alpha Centauri and Proxima Centauri, among other target stars. I will conclude with a discussion of data analysis techniques in development, and future efforts to expand the Breakthrough Listen program.