Astronomers hopeful of detecting ET’s

According to Britain’s leading astronomer, the chances of discovering extra terrestrials is greater than ever.

The president of the Royal Society and Astronomer Royal said: “such a discovery would be a moment which would change humanity. It would change our view of ourselves and our place in the cosmos”.

These comments come as scientists meet in London for an international conference to discuss the idea of discovering extra-terrestrial life.

Astronomers and scientists have been scanning our skies for radio signals from ET’s for 50 years, but have only found static.

The chances of finding life are now better than ever. Lord Rees (Royal Society president) said: “I suspect there could be life and intelligence out there in forms that we can't conceive”.

He also said: “Technology has advanced so that for the very first time we can actually have the realistic hope of detecting planets no bigger than the earth orbiting other stars. (We'll be able to learn) whether they have continents and oceans, learning what type of atmosphere they have. Although it is a long shot to be able to learn more about any life of them, then it's tremendous progress to be able to get some sort of image of another planet, rather like the earth orbiting another star."

Because of the advancement in technology telescopes can now detect earth like planets around distant stars, searching space where we could never have hoped to see before, thus increasing the probability of discovering other life, if it exists.

Lord Ress also said: "Were we to find life, even the simplest life, elsewhere that would clearly be one of the great discoveries of the 21st Century. I suspect there could be life and intelligence out there in forms that we can't conceive. And there could, of course, be forms of intelligence beyond human capacity, beyond as much as we are beyond a chimpanzee."

There have been some interesting events, such as ‘The Pheonix lights’ and ‘Roswell’, and many people claiming they have been abducted or seen alien craft over the years.