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Online Volunteers Should Scour Moon for Alien Signs: Experts

Scientists hope online sleuths may uncover ET technology, mining on HD photos

By Mary Papenfuss,  Newser Staff

Posted Dec 28, 2011 1:04 AM CST

(Newser) – Some astronomers are seeking to mobilize an army of volunteers to scan online photos of the lunar surface to search for any evidence of ancient alien civilizations. Online cosmic sleuths could scour hundreds of thousands of photos of the moon for any evidence of alien technology, mining and rubbish heaps, according to the proposal by professors at Arizona State University outlined in an article in Acta Astronautica.

They acknowledge there's only a "tiny probability" that alien technology left any trace, but add that the moon "has the virtue of being close, and of preserving traces for an immense duration." They add: "If it costs little to scan data for signs of intelligent manipulation, little is lost in doing so, even though the probability of detecting alien technology at work may be exceedingly low." NASA's Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter has already mapped a quarter of the moon's surface in high resolution, and made some 340,000 photos available to the public. A million may be available for sleuths soon.

This image shows paths left by astronauts, single lines, and lunar buggy tracks, parallel lines, from the 1972 US Apollo 17 mission. Now experts want volunteers to search the moon for signs of aliens.
This image shows paths left by astronauts, single lines, and lunar buggy tracks, parallel lines, from the 1972 US Apollo 17 mission. Now experts want volunteers to search the moon for signs of aliens.   (AP Photo/NASA)
The Moon enters a total eclipse as seen in Bangkok on December 10, 2011. The total eclipse of the Moon turned the lunar surface into a shade of red. AFP PHOTO/ Nicolas ASFOURI
The Moon enters a total eclipse as seen in Bangkok on December 10, 2011. The total eclipse of the Moon turned the lunar surface into a shade of red. AFP PHOTO/ Nicolas ASFOURI   (Getty Images)
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COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 16 comments
TommyA.Felix
Jan 1, 2012 12:31 AM CST
Operation photoshop.com
Jeffrey-Lebowski
Dec 29, 2011 12:26 AM CST
moonzoo.org and galaxyzoo.org to classify craters on the moon and classify galaxies by type. You get to see things no one has seen before. Humans are better than computers in classifying pictures, and the amatures are as good as the professionals. They both have a quick tutorial to teach you how to classify what you are looking at. Nice time waster. ;)
NotTooSerious
Dec 28, 2011 1:29 PM CST
How about we start with earth: Ancient Band of Holes -  http://www.google.com/search?rlz=1C1ASUT_enUS453US453&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8&q=holes+in+the+ground+in+peru#pq=holes+in+the+ground+in+peru&hl=en&cp=13&gs_id=1b&xhr=t&q=band+of+holes&pf=p&sclient=psy-ab&rlz=1C1ASUT_enUS453US453&source=hp&pbx=1&oq=band+of+holes&aq=0&aqi=g4&aql=&gs_sm=&gs_upl=&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.,cf.osb&fp=2f0b188327e19041&biw=1920&bih=965

 
extraterrestrial life • aliens • website • moon • SETI • lunar surface

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