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Has the Source of the Wow Signal Identified?

-- Audrey | October 30, 2020

Question:

Have astronomers detected where the imfamous “Wow” signal came from? Did it come from a certain constellation or a star of some sort? If so what is the name of said celestial body? What does 6EQUJ5 mean? Why is it so important to the astronomers who investigated the signal?

-- Audrey

Answer:

To my knowledge, no, the source of the “Wow” signal detected by astronomer Jerry Ehman while observing with the Big Ear radio telescope at Ohio State University on Aug. 15, 1977 has not been identified. Recently it was suggested that the Wow signal could have been due to two comets that were passing in the vicinity of the position where the Big Ear telescope was pointing when the Wow signal was detected, but this explanation has not been widely accepted.

-- Jeff Mangum

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