Just a quick question regarding what happens to the data after it has been processed and deemed useless, is it archived for future use, is it deleted?

probably a stupid question but was just wondering is all.

All the data "tapes" are retained just in case there is a need to re-analyse with different tools.

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Bob Smith
Member of Seti PIPPS (Pluto is a Planet Protest Society)
Somewhere in the (un)known Universe?

All the data "tapes" are retained just in case there is a need to re-analyse with different tools.

I see, so once any newer tech comes along they may review older data 'tapes', another quick question, would they be able to use all the large radio telescopes, linked together around the world, to make one large super radio telescope? I mean if that was possible just think of what that could potentially pick up, if possible.

In theory "yes", but I suspect there are a number of technical issues that would need to be overcome - not the least of which is that none of them are in the same solar-time-zone (with the possible exception of Parkes and FAST). The two largest (Arecibo and FAST) are not steerable thus they are limited to the sky more or less directly overhead and their locations puts their viewing sky a long way apart (something like 10 hours I think). Parkes, Lovell, Green Bank are fully steerable and have more or less horizon to horizon viewing, and it may just be possible to get some synchronised time out of them.
One could possibly use the GBT and Arecibo to make some sort of line array, possibly adding in one of the telescopes in South America to extend the line, but due to the limitations presented by Arecibo the viewing area would be very restricted.
Also, don't forget the SKA and other like groups there are already some "long line" telescopes in operation (Merlin in the UK springs to mind)

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Bob Smith
Member of Seti PIPPS (Pluto is a Planet Protest Society)
Somewhere in the (un)known Universe?

I think that the Horizon Event Telescope network used to get an image of the Horizon Event around a black hole was using telescope in different time zones, synchronized with atomic clocks. But I don't think they would be interested in SETI.
Tullio

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