A monitoring system for potential extraterrestrial communication has been shelved due to budget cuts, one of its partners said Tuesday.

With funding dried up, the SETI (Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence) established in 1984, had to put the Allen Telescope Array (ATA) on an indefinite pause, the institute said in a letter.

The telescopes, at the Hat Creek Radio Observatory north of San Francisco, California, had been monitoring for potential messages beyond our planet.

"Effective this week, the ATA has been placed in hibernation due to funding shortfalls for operations of the Hat Creek Radio Observatory where the ATA is located," said a letter from Tom Pierson, CEO of SETI Institute.

Funding for HCRO had been cut to one tenth its former level, he said, noting that partners were being sought.