Budget Woes Put Alien-Seeking Telescopes in “Hibernation”

Wednesday, 27 April 2011 | by Pat's Picks

California’s budget woes have reached new heights: outer space. The San Francisco Chronicle says due to a lack of funds the SETI Institute has been forced to shut down its Allen Telescope Array, a series of radio dishes that scan the skies for signs of alien life. Scientists say the timing is unfortunate: 1,235 new possible planets have recently been discovered, dozens of which fall within the “habitable zone.”

The San Jose Mercury News got on the story a few days ago and has some great details about what the “hibernation” could mean for astronomers.