Thursday, June 3, 2010

static?

this time: The Wow! signal



The Wow! signal was a strong narrowband radio signal
detected by Dr. Jerry R. Ehman on August 15, 1977,
while working on a SETI project
at The Big Ear radio telescope of Ohio State University.

The signal bore expected hallmarks
of potential non-terrestrial and non-solar system origin.
It lasted for a total of 72 seconds,
the full duration Big Ear observed it,
but has not been detected again.

Location on Google Sky

Much attention has been focused on it in the media
when talking about SETI results.

Amazed at how closely the signal matched the expected signature
of an interstellar signal in the antenna used,
Ehman circled the signal on the computer printout
and wrote the comment "Wow!" on its side.
This comment became the name of the signal.

read more:
Wikipedia
article

more:
The Big Ear Wow! Signal
(30th Anniversary Report)
by Jerry R. Ehman himself


plot of the Wow! signal:

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