Did we really detect a signal from Proxima Centauri? Maybe (not)!

A new (alien?) signal designated Breakthrough Listen Candidate One (BLC-1) appears to have originated from Proxima Centauri, the closest star to our solar system. It's already being compared to the famous WOW! signal of 1977, but it's very likely not really coming from Proxima, or even from beyond our solar system. But, it could nevertheless be a significant milestone in the search for extraterrestrial intelligence, or SETI.

00:00 Start
02:26 Ad
03:32 Proxima Centauri system
05:17 Parkes observations
06:16 How sources are determined
07:32 Satellites and orbits
10:22 Signal characteristics and airports?
12:40 Confirmation with future telescopes
14:34 An interstellar communications network?
15:40 Next steps and expected results
16:03 Telescopes on the Moon
16:25 Thanks and Patreon and Subscribe!

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[crankenstein]

I remain hopefully optimistic, but you’re probably right, it probably is just radio interference of some kind. But the silver lining to that is like you said, it will help to refine the process of detecting alien signals in order to confidently rule out earth based interference.

[ReadTheShrill]

A week later: "This has been a test of the Galactic Emergency Broadcast System."

[ScullyPop]

This is the best space channel on YouTube.

[DanWilan]

This is good old quality content! Straight to the point, without annoying intro

[magscheshire]

I don't think it's an alien signal but the famous wow signal probably was, not to mention there are recent events I think could be also alien like that oumoamoa object

[amirsafari]

As always great video, it's so sad that we don't live long enough to see answers to these questions

[rossmcleod]

Great work on this exciting signal Christian, I’ve been tuning in to all the channels that have given it a run and yours is right up there with the best.

[ktkrelaxedscience]

Very informative and laid back. Thanks for uploading. :)

[cyberpunkdarren]

Not sure how you can say its probably local human signal interference. The leaked info confirmed they performed a nod test with the dish. Which RULES OUT local interference.

[charlesjmouse]

Very good! Thank you.
If this was an "alien" transmission from Proxima that would have enormous implications. Not only would it confirm intelligent life "out there" but that such life must be common and widely spread as:
1) Otherwise what would be the chances of "alien intelligence" existing at the star nearest to us?
2) Red dwarfs are by far the most common stars in our galaxy but as far as we can work out are bad candidates for life...
...of course Proxima's proximity to Alpha Centauri A & B when considered in the light of the technology required to broadcast such a signal, if true, might invalidate any consideration for the habitability of red dwarf star systems.

Sadly when one compares the staggering number of highly unlikely circumstances that got us to where we are and compare that to our guesses as to how many star systems there are my best guess is that we are functionally alone in the universe and even the most simple organisms my well be vanishingly rare...
...that's not to say we shouldn't look as finding anything would be amazingly exciting and all estimates for how populated or not the universe may be are bsed on insufficient data.

[tseeker]

Excellent work, sir. New sub. I for one don't need confirmation of ETs as it seems to be a mathematical certainty. However, it would be cool (to say the least) to confirm something or some beings this close to earth.

[anthonygross]

Thanks for your recommendation on Megellan TV. Just got a subscription through your link, and I'm thoroughly enjoying it!

[SuperWhygee]

Excellent, please make a follow up when the research papers come out - if they do anyway.

[johnpooky]

This is the third video I've watched from you, and every time I hear "Friendly Neighborhood Astronomer", I think of Mr. Rogers, for some reason.

[tonyrome]

Yes, I have been discussing the possibility of putting radio and optical telescopes on the far side of the moon for many years now. Of course first we have to set up a moon base and agree to regulate activities on the moon so as to maximize the usefulness of those instruments. Not holding my breath, considering all the competing interest groups now exploring in the moon!

[caseykelso]

Love the vids bro and thanks for all the useful information.

[diseasefreeforall]

Love your videos. This is the most likely suspect for the signal's source I've read: "Being a precise base ten integer suggests it is human derived.
982.000 MHz is the second harmonic of 491.000 MHz, which is the center of Channel 17, UHF Television. It is probably the local oscillator of a broadcast TV tower. Harmonics can be easily generated by any nonlinear process, such as amplifiers or even a rusty contact." - mrtnmcc at ycombinator

[dsdy]

9:41 As far as my understanding goes, the main perturbation for Molniya satellites is a nodal precession where the orbit "cones" about the poles, and not an apsidal precession as you hypothesise. Other sources that could cause apsidal precession like solar/lunar tides and radiation pressure are also quite unlikely considering how inclined Molniya orbits are to both the ecliptic and the lunar orbital plane.

As such I feel pretty safe assuming it cannot be a Molniya satellite

[zrebbesh]

So, Proxima's 4.2 light years distant. Did we do anything spectacularly visible in the EM spectrum 8.4 years ago? Like, if somebody thinks this is an answer, what question did we ask? Or if somebody thinks this is a dial tone, how'd the provider know we'd picked up the phone?

[PagsPayback]

The transmission power is one of the points about radio signals(fermi paradox) from other stars that always bugged me. For Proxima Centauri with a much bigger antenna you would still need an radio emitter in the megawatt range to even come close to the signal strength we receive from the Voyager probes. Even Arecibo would have had it's problems to pick up unintentional signals from Stars much further than 4 light years.