For decades the observatory was largely funded by SETI donations, grants from the National Science Foundation and the state of California via Berkeley. Now, federal and state budget shortfalls have cut back observatory funding to one-tenth of what it used to be, leaving the array in "hibernation."

In a letter to supporters, Pierson said that it costs about $1.5 million a year to operate the array, plus another million to fund "science efforts."

KQED QUEST's Amy Standen on Tuesday spoke to SETI's Director of Research, Dr. Jill Tarter, about the cuts. A character based on Tarter was portrayed by Jodie Foster in the movie Contact, from Carl Sagan's novel about earth's contact with an extraterrestrial civilization.

Jill TarterJill Tarter

Video: SETI's Jill Tarter on Time She Thought She Discovered an Extraterrestrial Signal

SETI Now Searches for Funds Instead of ETs; Interview With Jill Tarter