Science | lunar surface Online Volunteers Should Scour Moon for Alien Signs: Experts Scientists hope online sleuths may uncover ET technology, mining on HD photos By Mary Papenfuss Posted Dec 28, 2011 1:04 AM CST Copied This image shows paths left by astronauts, single lines, and lunar buggy tracks, parallel lines, from the 1972 US Apollo 17 mission. Now experts want volunteers to search the moon for signs of aliens. (AP Photo/NASA) See 1 more photo Some astronomers are seeking to mobilize an army of volunteers to scan online photos of the lunar surface to search for any evidence of ancient alien civilizations. Online cosmic sleuths could scour hundreds of thousands of photos of the moon for any evidence of alien technology, mining and rubbish heaps, according to the proposal by professors at Arizona State University outlined in an article in Acta Astronautica. They acknowledge there's only a "tiny probability" that alien technology left any trace, but add that the moon "has the virtue of being close, and of preserving traces for an immense duration." They add: "If it costs little to scan data for signs of intelligent manipulation, little is lost in doing so, even though the probability of detecting alien technology at work may be exceedingly low." NASA's Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter has already mapped a quarter of the moon's surface in high resolution, and made some 340,000 photos available to the public. A million may be available for sleuths soon. Read These Next Murdered couple died "protecting their little girls." Delta pilot arrested moments after landing plane. Manhattan shooter's note reportedly referenced CTE. Manhattan shooter apparently took the wrong elevator. See 1 more photo Report an error