LGM-1
Encyclopedia
Little green men 1 was the explanation given to a certain astronomical
observation. In 1967, a radio signal was detected in a UK
observatory
by Jocelyn Bell and Antony Hewish
. The signal had a 1.3373 second period
and 0.04 second pulsewidth
. It originated at celestial coordinates 19:19 right ascension
, 21 degrees declination
. It was detected by individual observation of miles of graphical data traces. Due to its almost perfect regularity, it was at first assumed to be spurious noise, but this hypothesis was promptly discarded. After that, the discoverers proposed an alternative explanation that the signal might be a beacon or a communication from an intelligent extraterrestrial
civilization and named it LGM-1 (LGM = "Little Green Men").
The signal turned out to be radio emissions from the pulsar
CP1919 (the first one recognized as such). Bell noted that other scientists could have discovered pulsars before her, but their observation
s were either ignored or disregarded. She noted that Sir Fred Hoyle
identified this astronomical object as a neutron star
immediately upon their announcement.
Astronomy
Astronomy is a natural science that deals with the study of celestial objects and phenomena that originate outside the atmosphere of Earth...
observation. In 1967, a radio signal was detected in a UK
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
observatory
Observatory
An observatory is a location used for observing terrestrial or celestial events. Astronomy, climatology/meteorology, geology, oceanography and volcanology are examples of disciplines for which observatories have been constructed...
by Jocelyn Bell and Antony Hewish
Antony Hewish
Antony Hewish FRS is a British radio astronomer who won the Nobel Prize for Physics in 1974 for his work on the development of radio aperture synthesis and its role in the discovery of pulsars...
. The signal had a 1.3373 second period
Frequency
Frequency is the number of occurrences of a repeating event per unit time. It is also referred to as temporal frequency.The period is the duration of one cycle in a repeating event, so the period is the reciprocal of the frequency...
and 0.04 second pulsewidth
Pulse-width modulation
Pulse-width modulation , or pulse-duration modulation , is a commonly used technique for controlling power to inertial electrical devices, made practical by modern electronic power switches....
. It originated at celestial coordinates 19:19 right ascension
Right ascension
Right ascension is the astronomical term for one of the two coordinates of a point on the celestial sphere when using the equatorial coordinate system. The other coordinate is the declination.-Explanation:...
, 21 degrees declination
Declination
In astronomy, declination is one of the two coordinates of the equatorial coordinate system, the other being either right ascension or hour angle. Declination in astronomy is comparable to geographic latitude, but projected onto the celestial sphere. Declination is measured in degrees north and...
. It was detected by individual observation of miles of graphical data traces. Due to its almost perfect regularity, it was at first assumed to be spurious noise, but this hypothesis was promptly discarded. After that, the discoverers proposed an alternative explanation that the signal might be a beacon or a communication from an intelligent extraterrestrial
Extraterrestrial life
Extraterrestrial life is defined as life that does not originate from Earth...
civilization and named it LGM-1 (LGM = "Little Green Men").
The signal turned out to be radio emissions from the pulsar
Pulsar
A pulsar is a highly magnetized, rotating neutron star that emits a beam of electromagnetic radiation. The radiation can only be observed when the beam of emission is pointing towards the Earth. This is called the lighthouse effect and gives rise to the pulsed nature that gives pulsars their name...
CP1919 (the first one recognized as such). Bell noted that other scientists could have discovered pulsars before her, but their observation
Observation
Observation is either an activity of a living being, such as a human, consisting of receiving knowledge of the outside world through the senses, or the recording of data using scientific instruments. The term may also refer to any data collected during this activity...
s were either ignored or disregarded. She noted that Sir Fred Hoyle
Fred Hoyle
Sir Fred Hoyle FRS was an English astronomer and mathematician noted primarily for his contribution to the theory of stellar nucleosynthesis and his often controversial stance on other cosmological and scientific matters—in particular his rejection of the "Big Bang" theory, a term originally...
identified this astronomical object as a neutron star
Neutron star
A neutron star is a type of stellar remnant that can result from the gravitational collapse of a massive star during a Type II, Type Ib or Type Ic supernova event. Such stars are composed almost entirely of neutrons, which are subatomic particles without electrical charge and with a slightly larger...
immediately upon their announcement.
See also
- Quasar CTA 102, believed by Dr. Nikolai S. Kardashev to have an alien signal encoded in it.
- Wow! signalWow! signalThe Wow! signal was a strong narrowband radio signal detected by Dr. Jerry R. Ehman on August 15, 1977, while working on a SETI project at the Big Ear radio telescope of The Ohio State University then located at Ohio Wesleyan University's Perkins Observatory, Delaware, Ohio. The signal bore...