On This Day In Space: Aug. 15, 1977: ‘Wow!’ Mystery signal boosts search for E.T. (Image Credit: Space.com)
On Aug. 15, 1977, astronomers using Ohio State University’s Big Ear radio telescope detected the famous “Wow!” signal, which to this day is one of the strongest pieces of evidence that we are not alone in the universe.
Related: Humanity Responds to ‘Alien’ Wow Signal, 35 Years Later
Astronomer Jerry Ehman was using the telescope to scan a region in the constellation Sagittarius when it detected a weird, 72-second-long radio burst. The signal was too strong to be explained by background noise, and researchers determined that it was very unlikely that this signal came from anything on Earth.
Despite their best efforts, astronomers have not been able to detect any other signals like it.
On This Day in Space Archive!
Still not enough space? Don’t forget to check out our Space Image of the Day, and on the weekends our Best Space Photos and Top Space News Stories of the week.
Follow us @Spacedotcom and on Facebook.
