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<DIV class=OutlookMessageHeader dir=ltr align=left><FONT face=Tahoma
size=2></FONT></DIV><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff size=2></FONT>From <A
href="http://www.universetoday.com/am/publish/paul_allen_funds_seti.html">Universe
Today</A>: Billionaire Paul Allen has committed $13.5 million to support the
construction of the first and second phases of the Allen Telescope Array.
Construction of the array is now underway at the Hat Creek Observatory, 466 km
northeast of San Francisco; the first phase will include the development of 32
6.1-metre radio telescopes. The second phase will see an additional 174 built.
Eventually there will be a total of 350 identical dishes built. Once the first
32 dishes are completed, the array can begin scientific operations. <BR>The ATA
will be a general-purpose radio telescope that will provide fundamentally new
measurements and insights into the density of the very early universe, the
formation of stars, the magnetic fields in the interstellar medium, and a host
of other applications of deep interest to astronomers. At the same time, this 21
st Century radio telescope will also have the capability to search for possible
signals from technologically advanced civilizations elsewhere in the galaxy. "I
am very excited to be supporting one of the world's most visionary efforts to
seek basic answers to some of the fundamental question about our universe and
what other civilizations may exist elsewhere," said Paul G. Allen, primary
funder of the ATA. "I am a big proponent of leveraging revolutionary technology
and design and applying it to important problems in
science."</DIV></BODY></HTML>