The SETI Institute is an organization dedicated to the research and exploration of life in the universe. It was founded in 1984 by Thomas Pierson and Jill Tarter, and is located behind the Carl Sagan Center in Mountain View, California. The institute is best known for its search for extraterrestrial intelligence (SETI) program, which uses radio telescopes to search for signals from other civilizations. SETI stands for Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence. The institute also conducts research in astrobiology, planetary science, and space exploration.