By Celine Castronuovo - 12/18/20 02:12 PM EST
Scientists involved in a project in search of alien life are now investigating a mysterious radio wave signal that appears to have come from Proxima Centauri, the closest star to the sun.
The Guardian reported the finding Friday, writing that the emission was picked up during 30 hours of observations by the Parkes telescope in Australia in April and May last year.
Scientists working on the Breakthrough Listen Project have been investigating the emission since its detection, although the source still remains unclear. However, the Guardian reported that scientists found a shift in the beam’s frequency is consistent with the movement of a planet.
Strange radio signal fired from nearby star is ‘serious candidate’ for proof of alien life, scientists say
Charlotte Edwards, Digital Technology and Science Reporter
18 Dec 2020, 15:47
Updated: 18 Dec 2020, 16:50
ALIEN hunting astronomers are investigating a strange radio wave emission that seems to have come from a nearby star.
Proxima Centauri is our Solar System s closest star and is located just over 4 light years away.
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An artist s impression of red dwarf star Proxima Centauri and a planet that orbits itCredit: Handout - Getty
With today s current technology it would still take at least 6,300 years to get there, according to MIT estimates.
The star appears to have produced a narrow beam of radio waves that was then picked up by the Parkes telescope in Australia.