The RATAN-600 radio telescope in Zelenchukskaya, Russia has detected a strong signal around 11 GHz (which is very unlikely to be naturally-caused) coming from HD164595,
a star nearly identical in mass to the Sun and located about 95 light
years from Earth.
The system is known to have at least one planet.
If
the signal were isotropic, it would seem to indicate a Kardashev Type II
civilization.
While it is too early to draw any conclusions, the
discovery will be discussed at an upcoming SETI committee meeting on
September 27th.
According to Paul Gilster, author of the Centauri Dreams website,
"No one is claiming that this is the work of an extraterrestrial
civilization, but it is certainly worth further study.
Working out the
strength of the signal, the researchers say that if it came from an
isotropic beacon, it would be of a power possible only for a Kardashev
Type II civilization.
If it were a narrow beam signal focused on our
Solar System, it would be of a power available to a Kardashev Type I
civilization.
The possibility of noise of one form or another cannot be
ruled out, and researchers in Paris led by Jean Schneider are
considering the possible microlensing of a background source by
HD164595.
But the signal is provocative enough that the RATAN-600
researchers are calling for permanent monitoring of this target."
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