The "Wow!" signal and SETI

The Captain · 2006-12-12 12:27:21

Now, when it comes to flying saucers and little green men, I'm usually a skeptic. I don't think that aliens would come to Earth, then spend all their time abducting rednecks and mutilating cattle

However, I found out about something recently that was quite interesting: The "Wow!" signal. In 1977 a researcher working for SETI detected a strong radio pulse coming from the star Tau Sagittarii. This was on a bandwidth in which terrestrial transmitters are forbidden to transmit in. The pulse was so surprising and so similar to what an expected E.T. signal would look like, that the researcher wrote "Wow!" on the computer print out. The signal only lasted for 72 seconds, and nothing like it was ever detected again.

It's possible that it was a terrestrial broadcast or some freak natural event, but it's the closest thing we've ever gotten to a real alien signal. Makes you look up at the stars, smile, and wonder...

Wikipedia link for those who want to learn more: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wow%21_signal

John Creighton · 2006-12-14 01:13:55

What I observe about the signal is that its intensity is well above the background noise. It could be some sudden natural phenomena but if I was to speculate it was an alien signal, it is too short to be a message. More likely it is a key. To transmit that much power above the background radiation probably would take considerable resources especially if it was transmitted from a long way away.

It is more likely that an alien race would send some sort of spread band signal so that it could be distinguished from the back ground noise and transmitted at a lower power. So the question is how to use the key to identify the weaker spread band signals. How might 6EQUJ5 we use to identify a pseudo random sequence.

Tholzel · 2007-03-17 15:16:14

However, I found out about something recently that was quite interesting: The "Wow!" signal. In 1977 a researcher working for SETI detected a strong radio pulse coming from the star Tau Sagittarii. This was on a bandwidth in which terrestrial transmitters are forbidden to transmit in. The pulse was so surprising and so similar to what an expected E.T. signal would look like, that the researcher wrote "Wow!" on the computer print out. The signal only lasted for 72 seconds, and nothing like it was ever detected again.
It's possible that it was a terrestrial broadcast or some freak natural event, but it's the closest thing we've ever gotten to a real alien signal. Makes you look up at the stars, smile, and wonder...
Wikipedia link for those who want to learn more: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wow%21_signal

One of anything can be anything. Intelligence is not a burst of radiation. This was an explosion of some kind. Also, the handwriting of the "Wow" is that of an immature person--someone who would be easily influenced or with an active fantasy.

Number04 · 2007-12-03 13:05:35

Here is an interesting article, not directly related to the WOW signal, but about signals in general.

http://www.damninteresting.com/?p=219

Tom Kalbfus · 2007-12-13 15:04:19

Now, when it comes to flying saucers and little green men, I'm usually a skeptic. I don't think that aliens would come to Earth, then spend all their time abducting rednecks and mutilating cattle
However, I found out about something recently that was quite interesting: The "Wow!" signal. In 1977 a researcher working for SETI detected a strong radio pulse coming from the star Tau Sagittarii. This was on a bandwidth in which terrestrial transmitters are forbidden to transmit in. The pulse was so surprising and so similar to what an expected E.T. signal would look like, that the researcher wrote "Wow!" on the computer print out. The signal only lasted for 72 seconds, and nothing like it was ever detected again.
It's possible that it was a terrestrial broadcast or some freak natural event, but it's the closest thing we've ever gotten to a real alien signal. Makes you look up at the stars, smile, and wonder...
Wikipedia link for those who want to learn more: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wow%21_signal

What are the chances of two planets colliding? Would this produce a burst that was detectable at interstellar distances?

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#1 2006-12-12 12:27:21

Re: The "Wow!" signal and SETI

#2 2006-12-14 01:13:55

Re: The "Wow!" signal and SETI

#3 2007-03-17 15:16:14

Re: The "Wow!" signal and SETI

#4 2007-12-03 13:05:35

Re: The "Wow!" signal and SETI

#5 2007-12-13 15:04:19

Re: The "Wow!" signal and SETI

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