This past weekend, a group of 66 Japanese astronomers gathered to discuss the proper course of action to take in the event a signal from an extraterrestrial intelligence is discovered. The astronomers, who met specifically to determine which national authorities to notify after receiving an alien signal, failed to reach a decision before the meeting was adjourned.
According to the Declaration of Principles Concerning Activities Following the Detection of Extraterrestrial Intelligence -- a set of guidelines adopted by the International Astronomical Union (IAU) and other international astronomy organizations -- the discoverer of an alien signal is strictly prohibited from informing the general public until after he/she verifies that the signal is extraterrestrial in origin, informs other observers or research organizations involved so that they can independently observe and monitor the signal, and notifies the "relevant national authorities."
While these guidelines have existed for nearly 20 years, the Japanese SETI community has never formally discussed who exactly Japan's "relevant national authority" is until this weekend's conference. The meeting was held at the Nishi-Harima Astronomical Observatory (NHAO) in Hyogo prefecture, which for the past several years has been using its 2-meter NAYUTA telescope (Japan's largest) to search the heavens for high-intensity laser pulses sent our way by an extraterrestrial civilization attempting to communicate.
At the meeting, the National Astronomical Observatory of Japan (NAOJ) and the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications were named as possible "relevant national authorities," but some participants rejected these nominations and called the IAU's adopted guidelines into question by repeatedly warning that government authorities might cover up the truth if given a monopoly over the information.
In the end, the astronomers agreed to form a working group to study the issue, and they plan to announce their decision in 2009, which has been named the International Year of Astronomy. Should aliens establish contact in Japan before then, it will be up to the discoverer to decide who to notify.
[Source: Yomiuri]
Wojciech Szywalski
Hmm, It is good that scientists gathered together to discuss this, however
[]I am wondering do we listen in proper way?
Space should be full of AI signals but I am afraid that we are like ants...
Bizarrejapan
I always thought that Japanese are aliens themselves! :)
[]baka-sama
I often think we are the most intellegent lifeforms in the universe, and should keep looking inward to solve our problems and not waste our limited resources to find out who/whats out there. :)
[]Martijn
I think the most intelligent being in the universe must be a bacteria hiding in underground rivers on a distant planet.. no signals or anything.
How big is the chance that if there is intelligent life out there, it will send out a signal in any form? I doubt if anyone on earth knows the meaning of intelligence.
Though picking up a WiFi signal or receiving an iChat invitation from Pluto would be fun!
[]It's a Secret
I think if aliens call, we notify the ghost busters :D Although aliens aren't their specialty, I'm sure they'd figure out a way to do something xD
[]PoOkie
I thought this was the obvious answer.. apparently not everyone else knew..
[]azlan a.raof
should'nt we call ultraman or power rangers :))
[]rahul
I would like to meet an alien who is nice and firendly my dreem is to be an astrnaut and travel in space in search of ufos and alien and travel to all the planets. Ihope my dreem comes true
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