Letter to Russian astrophysicist, now working in USA:
May 18, 1998, (9:16 PM PST)
RE: Radio Signal from Cygnus A
phikent/orbit1a.html
RADIO ASTRONOMY AT THE UNIVERSITY OF INDIANAPOLIS
http://radio.spvi.com/radio/index.html
Index of /radio/data/1998
http://192.146.191.3/radio/data/1998/
Dish antennas trained on Cygnus A (and B?)
May 12, 1998, 05110900.txt at:
http://192.146.191.3/radio/data/1998/
# Sampling: 10 seconds per sample
# Total Time: 1d -> 86400 seconds.
# Number of Samples: 8640.
# start time: Mon May 11 09:00:05 1998
# DEC = 44
# colltime = 1d
# comments = Setting up for new observation of Cygnus group.
# ext_gain = 16db
# freq = 1230
# gain = 50
# inttime = 10
# rate = 10
# receiver_gain = 10.47
# starttime = 9:00 am
additional data available at:
http://192.146.191.3/radio/data/1998/05110900.txt
Apparently pulse identified on May14, 1998
"At the University of Indianapolis we have noticed short pulses of less than a minute duration. The produce very sharp spikes in the output of the RA receiver."
phikent/orbit/may/seti.html
# Sampling: 1 seconds per sample
# Total Time: 3h -> 10800 seconds.
# Number of Samples: 10800.
# start time: Thu May 14 05:00:07 1998
# DEC = 40.73 Deg.
# colltime = 3h
# comments = Now the dish is on the dec. of Cygnus A. Cygnus A is followed by Cygnus X and the plane of the galaxy. At the frequency we are observing, 4 GHz, the flux from Cygnus A is only slightly greater than the flux from Cygnus X
and the galactic plane.
# ext_gain = 16 dB
# freq = 1230
# gain = 50X
# inttime = 10
# rate = 1
# receiver_gain = 10.47
# starttime = 5:00 am tomorrow
additional data available at:
http://192.146.191.3/radio/data/1998/05140500.txt
THE WAVE FORMS WERE GRAPHED USING JAVA APPLICATION AT:
HTTP://192.146.191.3/radio/dograph.shtml
A GIF CONSTRUCTION ANIMATION WAS MADE INCLUDING GENERATED GRAPHS OF:
file name=01010908.txt through file name=05180430.txt
ORIGINAL EMAIL MESSAGE ALERTING TO EXPERIMENT:
phikent/orbit/may/seti.html
Please keep me in the loop on your findings. Let me know if I can be of assistance with any graphic interpretation or website design.
Sincerely,
Kent Steadman
phikent@aol.com
Russian: Kent?
Phikent: Hi
Russian: i passed on your info to 2 observatories
Phikent: I hope it's valuable information
Russian: we shalll see. I am hoping that they shall forward it to the 6 metre telescope in kazakhstan
Phikent: Notice that today the signal continues whatever it is
Russian: yes, indeed
Phikent: five days now at least
Russian: it is recursive, periodic and resonant
Phikent: are those important elements?
Russian: suggestive of intelligence
In a message dated 98-05-19 17:43:15 EDT, you write:
**A recent post of mine to the seti mail-list caused some confusion on the part of the UFO crowd. The subject was "pulses". The remailer for the list added the word "SETI" to the word "pulses" so the subject was then remailed as "SETI pulses".
The post referred to natural noise pulses, probably from local interference but certainly not a transmission from ETI, as they appear afew times a day no matter where we point the dish. Although I said that the pulses were probably interference twice in the post, some got excited.
I will take into account that the remailer may add the word SETI to the subject line in future posts.
By the way, no amateur radio astronomer with suitable equipment has taken up our offer for a joint project.
Malcolm Mallette Radio Astronomy at the University of Indianapolis**
REPLY:
If the signal is being received from all directions, no matter where you point the dish, we might have a phenomenon more anomalous than a signal from Cygnus.
There are others who have taken up the challenge to look.
FROM INTERNET MESSAGING:
Russian: we shalll see. I am hoping that they shall forward it to the 6 metre telescope in Kazakhstan
Phikent: Notice that today the signal continues whatever it is
Russian: yes, indeed
Phikent: five days now at least
Russian: it is recursive, periodic and resonant
Phikent: are those important elements?
Russian: suggestive of intelligence
If you, Malcom, contact me privately I will try to put yourself and the above Russian astrophysicist in communication.
Please understand that I was only a recipient of this now famous cross-post which I DID NOT take for granted. I went to the University of of Indianapolis astronomy site and ran the data to make animated graphs for my website:
I am asking all to please use all these memos flying around for one purpose only:
1. Go to the website at University of Indianapolis, astronomy, where the data is kept.
2. Analyze it
I have the tools I used posted on my website at:
phikent/orbit1a.html
SIGNAL URL:
Index of /radio/data/1998
http://192.146.191.3/radio/data/1998/
Kent Steadman
phikent@aol.com
See all updates and correspondences at:
ORBIT
phikent/orbit1a.html
Kent Steadman
phikent@aol.com
Date: 98-05-20 00:36:37 EDT
From: Phikent
To: anomalous-images@world.std.com
In a message dated 98-05-19 18:44:29 EDT, hhoward@ecpi.com writes:
**I did look at the web site. 90 per cent of the areas to click on do not open for me. There may be a University of Indianapolis, but it is not quite what the name seems to imply and I'm not sure yet that it really exists.
Strangely, the only area that had any substance was the astronomy area.
Don't get too excited about the posting and the way it came to you. Cygnus X is an emitter of regular, unknown signals as are many places in the sky. Regular signals do not an alien communication make.
HH**
Please understand that I was only a recipient of this now famous cross-post which I DID NOT take for granted. I went to the University of of Indianapolis astronomy site and ran the data to make animated graphs for my website:
I am asking all to please use all these memos flying around for one purpose only:
1. Go to the website at University of Indianapolis, astronomy, where the data is kept.
2. Analyze it
I have the tools I used posted on my website at:
phikent/orbit1a.html
SIGNAL URL:
Index of /radio/data/1998
http://192.146.191.3/radio/data/1998/
Kent Steadman
Subj: Fw: SETI cross-posting
Date: 98-05-19 19:18:36 EDT
From: bcornet@monmouth.com (Bruce Cornet)
Reply-to: bcornet@monmouth.com
To: phikent@aol.com (Kent Steadman)
**Kent,
Please post this. It is important that the public not misinterpret data which could be terrestrial interference.
Bruce
----------
**From: Dr. H. Paul Shuch <n6tx@setileague.org>
To: seti@sni.net
Cc: rcf@setileague.org; volcor@setileague.org
Subject: SETI cross-posting
Date: Tuesday, May 19, 1998 1:38 PM
Well, folks, it looks as though we're in for a load of criticism. Seems Malcolm Mallette's post about the interference pulses detected at University of Indianapolis have been cross-posted all over the world. Now no matter how much we emphasize that this was terrestrial interference, we're going to be labeled part of The Great Cover-Up. I hate to inhibit free flow of information, but I must ask all Project Argus participants receiving any candidate signals to PLEASE notify The SETI League, and NOT post to any open email lists. As soon as we're able to set up a CLOSED email list for Project Argus participants, I will so inform all who have returned their survey forms.
Let me emphasize that I have no intention of letting The SETI League be a party to any sort of withholding of valid scientific data. But if we can't even freely discuss terrestrial interference without the public misunderstanding, I guess that means we need to be very closed-mouthed during the signal analysis and verification phase.
-----------------------------------------------------------------
H. Paul Shuch, Ph.D. Executive Director, The SETI League, Inc.
433 Liberty Street, PO Box 555, Little Ferry NJ 07643 USA
voice (201) 641-1770; fax (201) 641-1771; URL http://www.setileague.org/
email work: n6tx@setileague.org; home: drseti@csrlink.net
"We Know We're Not Alone!"**
Subj: Radio Astronomy at the University of Indianapolis
Date: 98-05-19 23:43:04 EDT
From: mallettem@tcon.net (Malcolm Mallette)
Reply-to: mallettem@tcon.net
To: phikent@aol.com
CC: steve@estel.uindy.edu, keeth@in.net
Dear Mr. Steadman,
We would appreciate you removing the material about our radiotelescope from your webpage or modifying it so it does not suggest that we claim to have have discovered signals from extra-terrestrial intellegence. We claim no such thing. We are not doing a SETI search and have never done a SETI search. Our radiotelescope is still under construction. We are doing wide band Radio Astronomy.
A message about short bursts of interference that show on the graphs of our data as pulses was sent to several lists that go to amateur radio astronomers. The bursts of interference, or pulses, are clearly not from ETI as they are observed no matter where our dish is pointing.
The message was sent to the mail list used by the SETI League, Inc. as Seti is a branch of Radio astronomy. The subject of the message as I sent it was "pulses". The seti remailer added the word "SETI" to the word "pulses" so my original message with the subject "pulses" was remailed with the subject as "SETI pulses".
The message itself, as set forth on your webpage, notes that the observations discussed are probably local interference. However, we wish to exclude any possible that they are from a source in space, as we are being careful. As I indicated, we know they are not of intellegent creation as they arrive from many locations in the sky and there are always one or two pulses, or bursts of interference, no matter where we point the dish. We therefore sent a message to all Radio Astronomy lists asking for other small radiotelescopes to participate in a survey.
By the way, I do not recall seeing an interference burst from Cygnus A, although they are observer, one or two a day, no matter what elevation the dish is at. We are seeing Cygnus A, followed by the plane of the Galaxy, and, in the plane of the Galaxy Cygnus X and Cygnus B. That is the graph on your page that changes from one day's graph to the other.
You are presenting Cygnus A, followed by Cygnus x and Cygnus B ( the latter in the plane of the Galaxy ) as they transit our south meridian. The radiotelescope does not move and the earth rotates, swinging it through the sky.
The graph I have described is almost the same as the graph at page 10-32 of Radio Astronomy 2nd edition by John Kraus. The natural objects are the same. The only differences are that our baseline goes down as the LNB heats up as the sun rises and the professionals used cooled LNBs. We intend to cool our LNB. In addition at C band Cygnus A is not that much stronger than the sources I mentioned as its flux drops off a great deal as frequency goes up.
I will soon modify our webpage to explain what is being observed now that we are right on declination of Cygnus.
Please modify your webpage so that it does not suggest we have made claims that we have not made.
Malcolm Mallette Radio Astronomy at the University of Indianapolis
In a message dated 98-05-19 23:43:04 EDT, you write:
Thank you, Malcom:
I have removed all references to ETI, and left the links to your site as well as the pics of Cygnus.
phikent/orbit1a.html
I have likewise posted your above letter to my NOTES AND CORRESPONDENCES
phikent/orbit/may/cygnotes.html
WE STILL NEED INFO as to what is this signal? If it is coming from wide regions or across all bandwidths the implications might be even more astounding.
Let me say you are no longer alone in this research, because of the release of your studies, many are looking into the phenomenon now.
Other astrophysicists, some across the Straits, seem to be taking whatever this is very seriously.
Perhaps you would like to be in touch. Please advise.
I am also guessing that you are now under some academic pressure--I have been there myself. We beg that whatever you find be made accessible to us, after all, the cat is now out of the bag.
Let me know if the current changes are adequate, or if I can help through the outreach of my website
Kent Steadman
Subj: Re: IUFO: ORBIT: Univ of Indianapolis SIGNAL update
Date: 98-05-20 11:46:10 EDT
From: mufor@maltanet.net (JJ Mercieca)
To: Phikent@aol.com (Phikent)
**A message about short bursts of interference that show on the graphs of our data as pulses was sent to several lists that go to amateur radio astronomers. The bursts of interference, or pulses, are clearly not from ETI as they are observed no matter where our dish is pointing. >
and
**creation as they arrive from many locations in the sky and there are always one or two pulses, or bursts of interference, no matter where we point the dish.
Hmmm .. bursts of interference from wherever they point the dish? UFOs communicating with each other? Are they picking up Sol System Alien Traffic Control center? Nahhh, it's "clearly not from ETI".
Regards,
JJ Mercieca Malta UFO Research
http://www.mufor.org
Subj: Re: [MC] Re: SETI pulses... not. (Russians have taken up your offer)
Date: 98-05-20 08:53:12 EDT
From: mallettem@tcon.net (Malcolm Mallette)
Reply-to: mallettem@tcon.net
To: Phikent@aol.com (Phikent)
The interference to which I referred has been noted for years . It consists of short bursts of interference of less than a minute that shows up as a line ( or pulse) on the data graphs. See the Society of Amateur Radio Astronomers webpage. http://wbs.net/sara.html It used to have a discussion of this interference and probably still does. There is a theory held by some, that the a few of the short bursts of interference, or sporadic single pulses, are from natural sources in space. Most are without doubt local interference. We decided to see what simultaneous observation showed as our radiotelescope will be at one elevation for two weeks or so.
This is nothing new.
Malcolm Mallette
Subj: Re: Radio Astronomy at the University of Indianapolis
Date: 98-05-20 08:58:39 EDT
From: mallettem@tcon.net (Malcolm Mallette)
Reply-to: mallettem@tcon.net
To: Phikent@aol.com (Phikent)
There is no cat out of the bag. This interference has been noted for years. the Society of Amateur Radio Operators webpage may still discuss it. http://wbs.net/sara.html There is a theory that some short burst of interference come from natural causes in space. That has never been confirmed.
This is nothing that has not been discussed for years amoung amateur radio astronomers and, I am certain, most professionals.
Malcolm Mallette
Subj: Re: Radio Astronomy at the University of Indianapolis
Date: 98-05-20 09:07:47 EDT
From: Phikent
To: mallettem@tcon.net
Then what was your recent project all about--the request for a study? The Russians seem most interested in your data. Good thing we are all pals now, eh?
Kent Steadman
Subj: Re: Radio Astronomy at the University of Indianapolis
Date: 98-05-20 22:31:08 EDT
From: mallettem@tcon.net (Malcolm Mallette)
Reply-to: mallettem@tcon.net
To: Phikent@aol.com (Phikent)
Yes we were requesting another small radiotelescope to assist us in a study which we expect to demonstrate that we are subject to earth based interference.
Malcolm Mallette
Subj: Re: Radio Astronomy at the University of Indianapolis
Date: 98-05-20 23:28:48 EDT
From: Phikent
To: mallettem@tcon.net
I'm talking about the big observatories in the Urals, they are listing, as well as looking through their 6-meter telescope. Waiting for report. Ground-based or not, they think this is something big.
Will brief you when something comes in.
Kent
Subj: SETI Signals
Date: 98-05-21 09:37:07 EDT
From: Donald.Krupp@gte.net (Donald Krupp)
To: phikent@aol.com
Mr. Steadman,
Its despicable how you've manipulated the facts and continue to portray the U of Indianapolis radio observatory piece as evidence of E.T. contact. And, then, once confronted with the facts you portray the university as somehow participating in a cover-up. What utter crap. You, sir, are engaged in deliberate and willful deception and fraud.
Sir Krupp:
I have been in contact with and have complied with Mr. Malcolm Mallette's requests, including the removal of any reference (by my pen) to ETI on my web presentation. Also in fairness to debate I have included all correspondences (including this exchange, henceforth) on my site at:
phikent/orbit/may/cygnotes.html
phikent/orbit1a.html
I am not the individual who released your so-called "misleading information" on the internet, nor do I now tag the signals as related to SETI and ETI. I simply continue to report what comes to me.
Meanwhile instead of crying nanny, nanny-goat, I would appreciate your personal opinion concerning the origin and identity of the signals. Others are most interested in these strange pulses (even if they are possibly localized), and I am doing what Mr. Mallette originally requested toward seeking additional input.
Yours and others extreme reaction does make me want to speculate that there could be more to this story. After all I am small-potato web guy working from home. Why are you making such a fuss? Most interesting!
Your accusations are without contribution--but then we will let the readers determine this for themselves, righto?
By the way, who are you? You have said nothing about your qualifications to enter this debate. Blowing bluster means nothing.
Kent Steadman
Dear Mr. Steadman,
I posted your URL at the MSNBC space bbs in reference to the Cygnus signals after I received a e-mail describing the story.
Don is the resident "skeptic" or perhaps contrary believer and occasionally likes to "spout off." My acquaintance with him was equally bombastic. He's not so bad when you get to know him and actually has posted a positive comment about your site.(!!!!) I have found his skepticism to be worthwhile and actually posted one of his theories at my mars site. He likes a good argument, also likes a good you-know-what-throwing-contest as well, and he has a sense of humor.
Your site is splendid.
You may find some of my mars pages to be interesting:
rupert
Rupert:
Great! My kind of guy! Tell him so, and that I'm willing to bonk skulls anytime. We old coots, what have we got to lose?
Kent Steadman (more)