The International Astronomical Union establishes Commission 51, dedicated to bioastronomy and the search for extraterrestrial life. Samuel Gulkis and Thomas Kuiper begin a southern hemisphere search focused on water vapor lines at the 64-meter DSN antenna in Australia. The SETI Institute is founded as a home for research investigating all aspects of life in the Universe. The project is sponsored by a generous grant from film director Steven Spielberg. Publication terminated in 1998, after sixteen issues.
Observations continue for six months.
Michel Mayor and Dedier Queloz. By 1999, roster of confirmed exoplanets grows to over twenty. End of Project. The SETI Institute's Project Phoenix continues its targeted search from the Arecibo Radio Observatory in Puerto Rico. The author's request for additional material following the initial draft publication produced a wealth of information from many contributors.