But collecting microwave radiation has one major drawback, as Esteban Illanes of the European Southern Observatory, explains. 'It is absorbed by water. An observatory at sea level would pick up nothing.
It sounds extraordinary. Nevertheless, the European Southern Observatory has committed itself to begin building an array of giant microwave receivers on Chajnantor.
In 1974, a binary string known as the Arecibo message was beamed from the Arecibo Observatory towards the star cluster M13. People hope that eventually it will be read by another intelligent race.
In 1974, a binary string known as the Arecibo message was beamed from the Arecibo Observatory towards the star cluster M13. People hope that eventually it will be read by another intelligent race.