Case file · Cosmic event
The Wow! signal
A strong narrowband radio signal recorded on 15 August 1977 by Ohio State University's Big Ear telescope, from the direction of Sagittarius.
1977 CE · 40.25, -83.05 · status: unexplained
The account
Astronomer Jerry Ehman found it days later on a printout, circled the code '6EQUJ5' and wrote 'Wow!' beside it. It lasted the full 72 seconds the telescope could see that patch of sky, near the hydrogen frequency that SETI theorists had suggested aliens might use. Repeated searches have never found it again.
The sceptical view
A single unrepeated detection cannot establish an artificial source. Proposed natural causes include a transient brightening of hydrogen, but none is confirmed.
Connections in the atlas
- ? What was the "Wow!" signal?
- 'Sirius' film & the Atacama humanoid
- ? If the galaxy is old and vast, where is everybody?