Hat Creek Radio Observatory, operated by the SETI Institute, is home to the Allen Telescope Array (ATA), the first telescope designed specifically for SETI research. Funded in part by Paul Allen, the ATA consists of 42 antennas – reconfigurable dishes that work together, covering frequencies from 1GHz-12GHz. Its advanced electronics allow it to multitask, conducting SETI searches while performing conventional radio astronomy.

The Hat Creek Radio Observatory was founded in late 1950s by the Radio Astronomy Laboratory, part of the astronomy department at the University of California, Berkeley. An 85-foot antenna was installed in 1962, which led to the discovery of the first astrophysical maser in 1965. Alas, this dish collapsed in a windstorm in 1993. Millimeter-wave astronomy became a focus in the early 1970s, with the construction of a two-element interferometer. Further elements were later added, culminating in a total of 10 after the loss of the 85-foot dish. This array was called BIMA (Berkeley Illinois Maryland Association) and was relocated in 2005.

Removal of BIMA made room for the Allen Telescope Array, the only instrument designed specifically for the purpose of SETI (the Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence) research. It is named after the late Paul Allen, cofounder of Microsoft. The ATA currently consists of 42 antennas: it is both cheaper than a single big dish and more flexible, as its configuration can be changed. Linking lots of small dishes has become practical due to the decreasing costs of the high-performance electronics needed. ATA has a very broad range both spatially and in wavelengths covered (0.5 to 11.2 GHz). With its electronics it is also capable of “multitasking,” carrying out conventional radio telescope observations simultaneously with SETI investigations, even on several stars at once, as at least one target star is usually in the field of view of the current investigation.

The University of California, Berkeley transferred control of the Hat Creek Radio Observatory to SRI International in 2012, and the SETI Institute now runs the facility on a day-to-day basis, as Hat Creek continues to be a key site for astronomical discoveries.

If you wish to find out more about the HCRO or visit the observatory, follow the link where you will find all the necessary information.