Optical SETI wow signal

It was recently reported that Australian Optical SETI researchers made a one-time detection of a very strong signal spike in December 2008. Unfortunately the signal was not detected in subsequent attempts to receive it, so must be put into the same 'gray area' as the famous Ohio State University 'wow signal' of 1977. The signal is reportedly considered interesting enough that possible causes are still being investigated. Optical SETI seeks to detect laser beam mediated signals from extraterrestrial civilizations. Source: http://grenzwissenschaft-aktuell.blogspot.com/2009/05/aus

It was recently reported that Australian Optical SETI researchers made a one-time detection of a very strong signal spike in December 2008. Unfortunately the signal was not detected in subsequent attempts to receive it, so must be put into the same 'gray area' as the famous Ohio State University 'wow signal' of 1977. The signal is reportedly considered interesting enough that possible causes are still being investigated. Optical SETI seeks to detect laser beam mediated signals from extraterrestrial civilizations. Source: http://grenzwissenschaft-aktuell.blogspot.com/2009/05/aus

It does sound interesting, but if the signal doesn't repeat, it's useless.
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SETI Picks Up Laser Pulse Emanating From Space
http://io9.com/5256360/seti-picks-up-regular-laser-pulse-emanating-from-space

http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,25448647-30417,00.html

Both articles are light on details. The Australian article is more a "history of seti" thing.

Martin; Don't agree that a one time detection is useless, though it proves nothing by itself, of course. The signal was detected last December, over 5 months ago. Dr. Bhathal has tried, but not been able to find a mundane explanation for it in that time. He continues to watch very frequently for a reappearance of the signal. That is already better follow-up than the OSU wow signal apparently received, at that time. Suppose, for some unknown reason, that the laser beam is sent our way at, say, six month intervals, for a few days at a time. It could be redetected quite soon by Dr. Bhathal's efforts, which he wouldn't be making now, without that first detection. Important discoveries often require persistent efforts. Michael

Or it could be a one time transmission like the Arecibo message.
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Life is short so, live it well.

Just a thought, but what if the source that is transmitting the signal is both rotating the signal like a lighthouse and is orbiting a star.

Depending on how far away the source was, how much would that change the location and period would the signal could be observed again?
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Cory; Lots of variables could affect this. Inclination of the planet's spin to its orbital plane, period of rotation, etc. We don't even know if it came from the surface of a planet. I'd want to think about placing a laser transmitter in space to avoid atmospheric attenuation. If it orbited its star once every six months and was tidally locked (same side always facing outward from its star) it wouldn't need to spin. It would sweep out the plane of its orbit with the laser beam in all directions, every six months. Some people think it likely that any laser beam we received would be intentionally aimed at us, because good space based surveys would have revealed which planets harbored life. We may simply be on a somebody's list, and get pinged by a laser beam from time to time, to see if we're paying attention yet. The period of repetition could be six months, six years, or anything. We only have to be looking at the right spot in the sky when it happens. Optical SETI is still pretty new. Patience will probably pay off, eventually. Michael