I'm brand new to seti and am on three or four teams. How do you earn credits?

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Well, #1 this project is not "seti" (Search for extraterrestrial intelligence). I would consider it more as astronomy -- mapping the universe.

I assume you've installed the BOINC application/program? After you've joined the project, which I see you just did today, you download work units (WUs). Once your computer/device has correctly computed these and returned them to the project, if no errors/issues you would get the allotted credits. (Simplified explanation)

Credits vary by project. Many projects area variable credit but usually within a certain median range for each type of work client. Some are a fixed amount.

Basically...

1. Attach to project and download clients and work.
2. Return (successfully) completed work
3. You have usually a couple of 'wingmen' which are others running the same WU (this is to ensure the WU gets processed as well as for verification.) Once they return there results, all the results are compared to ensure they come out the same.
4. If there's no problems you get credit. If there is an error, you probably won't get any credit although in some cases the admin may decide to grant credit (e.g. everybody is getting error or if you are participating in testing).
5. Repeat.

Look for a link to Your account to see the credits you are getting as well as other interesting details.