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| title | chunk | source | category | tags | date_saved | instance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Laser SETI | 2/2 | https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Laser_SETI | reference | science, encyclopedia | 2026-05-05T13:17:00.298199+00:00 | kb-cron |
The main science goal of the LaserSETI project is to monitor the skies for extrasolar laser pulses. To do so, LaserSETI cameras creates signatures from natural and non-natural sources that are easy to distinguish from each other using slit-less spectroscopy. The different wavelengths of light coming from a star or other body will be spread into a full spectrum by the grating combined with each camera. In contrast, a monochromatic pulse only consists of one wavelength of light and will not produce a full spectrum and would be easily identifiable by the LaserSETI pipelines. There are no currently known monochromatic laser sources in nature, so any such detection by LaserSETI could indicate extraterrestrial intelligence or a previously unknown astrophysical process.
Meteors that enter Earth’s atmosphere are also detected by LaserSETI. Surveying meteor activity can help scientists to track fireballs, meteroid orbits, and even assist in meteorite recovery on the ground. Due to its final all-sky nature, LaserSETI might even be able to determine the cause of observed events often attributed to meteoroid activity such as “sky flashes,” which are brief flashes of light that appear as if they are blinking stars. Due to its spectroscopic capabilities, LaserSETI can distinguish and study the composition of natural objects like meteors, whereas hypothetical objects, such as relativistic meteors, could be additionally distinguished by speed.
LaserSETI will also be able to detect the re-entry of man-made debris, both planned and unplanned. Such objects can be distinguished from natural objects like meteors based on qualities like their velocity across the sky. The LaserSETI survey will be able to study the brightness and trajectory of man-made debris, like fragments of spacecraft from launches.
== References ==