After 40 years of anticipation, astronomers are bracing themselves for a potential response from alien beings today.
On August 15 1983, two hopeful astronomers – Professors Masaki Morimoto and Hisashi Hirabayashi from Stanford University – transmitted a message into the cosmos via a radiowave-emitting antenna. Today could be the day they get a response.
The target of their interstellar correspondence was Altair, a star situated about 16.7 light-years away from Earth, with August 22 2023, marking the anticipated earliest timeframe for a response.
Their transmission comprised of 13 drawings intended to convey the narrative of human evolution and the origins of life on Earth. Depicting the transition of life from aquatic microorganisms to land-dwelling humans, the drawings also encompassed explanations of DNA and our solar system. The intent was for any intelligent life near Altair to interpret the message and potentially send a reply.
Although the initiator of this ambitious experiment, Professor Morimoto, passed away in 2010, the remaining pioneer, Dr. Hirabayashi, continues to witness the culmination of his endeavour.
In a collective effort, researchers from The University of Hyogo in Japan, led by Shinya Narusawa, are poised to monitor potential responses using the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency’s (JAXA) antenna. Their vigilant watch will last approximately an hour, scouring for distinctive radio activity or signals indicating a reply.
Shinya Narusawa expressed that since the 1990s, the detection of numerous exoplanets has augmented the possibility of potential life-supporting environments on other celestial bodies.
While the outcome remains uncertain, the profound experiment launched four decades ago by these pioneering astronomers could soon yield an answer, revealing whether humanity’s attempt at cosmic communication has been successful.
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