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NEWSCIENCENEWSCIENCENEWSCIENCE in multiple hops from ionosphere to ground and back again, and can be received around the world. Science tells us that these signals eventually attenuate and die ant in multiple hops from ionosphere to ground because we have now reached a finding new ways of storing data. and back again, and can be received _ technological level to receive the signals Scientific enquiry knows no limits, so let's around the world. Science tells us that and investigate them. In light of today's explore! oo these signals eventually attenuate and die great interest in the UFO phenomenon, this out. theory should be worthy of consideration in References Some ham radio operators like to bounce UFO circles. ¢ Boyce, Chris, "Do LDEs Emanate from their signals off the Moon (which is at a Finally, there is a theory which is strictly Alien Probes?", SETI League Guest distance of between 221,460 and 252,760 ionospheric in origin, put forth by D. B. — Editorial, http://www.qsi.net/seti/editor/ miles from the Earth), but they use much Muldrew. In his 1979 article "Generation Ide/htm higher frequencies, usually in the region of of Long Delay Echoes", he examined the * Bracewell, R. N., "The Galactic Club: 400 megahertz (400,000 kilohertz); these various ways that the ionosphere might _ Intelligent Life in Outer Space, Alumni signals can pass through the ionosphere cause radio waves to be delayed. He was Association, Portable Stanford, 1974 with impunity. When the amateurs bounce of the opinion that ducting in the * Budden, K.G. andG.G. Yates, "A their signals off the Moon, they experience ionosphere could have the ability to trap Search for Radio Echoes of Long Delay", J. a2.7-second delay from the time of radio waves for a certain amount of time. _ Almos. and Terr. Physics 2:272-281, 1952 transmitting the signal to receiving it. If Short delays of up toa second could ° Galle, J.B., "Observations relatives ala one were to bounce a signal off Venus, radio-€lectricité et a la physique du it would take a few minutes or more globe", L'Onde Electrique 9:257-265, from transmission to reception, 1930 . depending upon the distance between . * Galle, J. B., G. Talon and M. Ferrie, Earth and Venus at that time. The only thing to be "Recherches relatives a la propagation It seems highly unlikely that much of determined is what is causing des ondes radioélectriques effectuées a the short-wave radiation that PCJJ or Toccasion de l’éclipse du 9 mai 1929", radio hams broadcast back then could the phenomenon and why the Comptes Rendus de l'Académie des Sciences 130:48-52, 1930 have leaked into outer space and been electromagnetic waves are * "Long-Delayed Radio Echoes: reflected back to Earth, then again . Observations and Int tations" encountering the ionosphere and being behaving the way they do. servations and 'n erpre’ anions . oe VHF Communications 2:109-116, attenuated again. The strength of this 1993 signal would have been so minuscule that it wouldn't have been detectable with the equipment of the time. ¢ Lunan, D., Interstellar Contact, chapter 12, "The News From Bootes", Henry Regnery Co., Chicago, 1975, possibly be accounted for by this. Longer pp. 223-262, ISBN 0-8092-8258-5 (first Theories about the LDE phenomenon delays needed to be given further published in the UK as Man and the Stars, There have been a number of theories explanation. Muldrew suggested that a 1974) put forth over the years as possible rather complex interaction between signals, Macvey, J. W., Whispers from Space, explanations for the LDE phenomenon. from separate transmitters could create (in chapter 13, "From What Far Star", Abelard According to one theory, the radio _ theory) a long-lived electromagnetic wave — §chuman, London, 1973, p. 193 signals are indeed passing through the __ that travels in the ionosphere. He proposed + Muldrew, D. B., "Generation of Long ionosphere and bouncing off the Moon or _ that delays of up to 40 seconds might be Delay Echoes", J. Geophysical Research, planets. This might explain some possible with this memory effect in the — 84:5199-5215, September 1979 occurrences but, as was mentioned earlier, ionosphere. ¢ Stormer, C., "Short-wave Echoes and the the time delay from the Earth to the Moon What are we to make of this interesting Aurora Borealis", Nature 122:681, 3 and back again is always in the vicinity of scientific phenomenon? It has been November 1928 2.7 seconds. Venus and Mars would be in experienced and investigated by scientists, _* Stérmer, C., Proceedings of the Royal the minutes region, depending on how far so it is actually documented in scholarly Society of Edinburgh 50, part II, no. 15, away they were at the time; and journals. There is no doubt that there is 1933 considering that they are small points of something here. The only thing to be reflection, the returning signal would be determined is what is causing the About the Author: very small indeed. (The lack of observable phenomenon and why the electromagnetic Frank Simonsen has been an electronics consistency in the timing of the echoes is waves are behaving the way they do. professional for 25 years and an amateur one of the characteristics of the LDE Perhaps with our ever-expanding fadig operator and electronics hobbyist phenomenon.) knowledge of physics, we will eventually since his youth. He has a fascination Another theory is that the signals are _ have all the tools at our disposal to piece all with most areas of science, especially the extraterrestrial in origin. This idea was put _ of the puzzle together. offbeat and unusual. Mr Simonsen has forth by radiophysicist Professor Ron We hope that one day soon, the money __ lived in British Columbia all his life, and Bracewell. It basically states that our can be made available to investigate the has been strongly influenced by the signals are being intercepted and LDE phenomenon further with more natural beauty of his surroundings, retransmitted by alien space probes that modern technology. Perhaps these becoming an amateur naturalist and were placed in near-Earth orbit aeons ago, investigations could lead to ways of — conservationist. He can be reached by finally announcing their presence to us improving radio-wave propagation or even email at frank19600@hotmail.com. finding new ways of storing data. Scientific enquiry knows no limits, so let's explore! oo The only thing to be determined is what is causing the phenomenon and why the electromagnetic waves are behaving the way they do. About the Author: Frank Simonsen has been an electronics professional for 25 years and an amateur radio operator and electronics hobbyist since his youth. He has a fascination with most areas of science, especially the offbeat and unusual. Mr Simonsen has lived in British Columbia all his life, and has been strongly influenced by the natural beauty of his surroundings, becoming an amateur naturalist and conservationist. He can be reached by email at frank19600@hotmail.com. NEXUS + 47 AUGUST - SEPTEMBER 2006 www.nexusmagazine.com