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The Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence (SETI) Institute will switch its telescope array back on in its hunt for signs of extraterrestrial life, thanks to a generous public fundraising campaign which has helped to raise more than $200,000 (£122,000).

The SETI Institute was closed back in April due to its income being lost in public funding cuts, but a group of over 2,400 donors, including actress Jodie Foster and Apollo 8 astronaut Bill Anders, has managed to raise enough funds to enable the Institute to continue its work until the end of the year. However final confirmation will be pending supplementary money being received from the Air Force which will see the SETI Institute also being employed to track space debris that could damage satellites.

Thomas Pierson, SETI Chief Executive said: "For those who are interested in understanding whether intelligent life might be out there elsewhere in our galaxy, the Allen Telescope Array and our SETI team doing the research are the best bet."

The SETI Institute consists of 42 dish-shaped antennae (named the Allen Telescope Array), situated in northern California, which are wired together to operate as a single radio telescope. As well as searching for signs of extraterrestrial intelligence, the array also contributes to research into black holes, pulsars and magnetic fields in the Milky Way.

Find out more about the Institute's work on the SETI website.

This news article originally appeared on the BBC News website