I also study astronomy and own a 8" dobsonian scope, probably pretty weenie next to the hardware most of you probably have. I've done some nice astrophotography with a regular digital camera, just shooting down the eyepiece. Its on my web page, www.kevinfolta.com

Is it a good idea to broadcast our whereabouts... YES. However, think about how we have been doing this for 50 years... what will happen when a higher intelligence watches us whip alien ass in old episodes of "Lost in Space" or "Star Trek". We're going to get them a little ticked and they may venture here for some rectal corings.

Bottom line... we don't treat each other well, why do we think we'd be accomadating to a space dude? We would see racism, but now it would be "spacism" and there would be years of separate drinking fountains for greys before we got a clue. Humans always want someone to hate.

I think we should transmit a message that there is no good reason to come here. A nuclear war, maybe the earth overrun with Rosie O'Donnells. That would keep them away.