Analyzing the Stephens Mystery Signal

Paper number

IAC-13,A4,2,1,x17604

Author

Prof.Dr. H. Paul Shuch, The SETI League, Inc., United States

Coauthor

Prof. Allen Tough, University of Toronto, Canada

Year

2013

Abstract

In April, 2012, longtime Canadian SETI researcher Robert Stephens informed The SETI League, Inc. of his reception of an unknown signal suggestive of extraterrestrial intelligence.  Because of Mr. Stephens’ reputation and extensive experience, the author opted to drive up to the Area 31 Radio Observatory personally, to participate in signal verification activities.  He observed the signal in question, found it to exhibit a temporal persistence inconsistent with sidereal motion, and devised an experiment to test (and invalidate) the hypothesis that the signal was entering the receiver through the facility’s antenna.  This test was thus unable to confirm the Stephens Mystery Signal as a valid SETI candidate.  Neither was it able to disprove Mr. Stephens’ hypothesis that the signal observed was a manifestation of extraterrestrial communications sent by a mechanism heretofore unknown to humankind.

KEYWORDS

 	SETI, radio astronomy, radio telescope, signal verification, Stephens Mystery Signal

Abstract document

IAC-13,A4,2,1,x17604.brief.pdf

Manuscript document

IAC-13,A4,2,1,x17604.pdf (🔒 authorized access only).

To get the manuscript, please contact IAF Secretariat.