WOW! Signal - Preliminary Analysis
This report provides a detailed examination of the 1977 detection of the WOW! signal by the Big Ear Radio Telescope. The document includes:
1. Summary
- Highlights the WOW! signal's status as a mysterious event in the search for extraterrestrial intelligence (SETI).
- Suggests the source exhibited characteristics indicative of deliberate, directional motion.
2. Key Characteristics
- Frequency: Detected at 1420 MHz, a protected hydrogen line frequency.
- Duration: Extended to 72 seconds, significantly longer than expected for a stationary object due to Earth's rotation.
- Signal Strength: Encoded in segments (6EQUJ5) that show a rise, peak, and fall.
- Trajectory: Suggests the source maneuvered within the telescope's field of view, requiring deliberate control or unique dynamics.
3. Calculated G-Forces
- The source's maneuvers would have generated 100–350 g, far exceeding the capabilities of known natural or artificial systems.
4. Eliminated Sources
- Rules out known natural celestial bodies, terrestrial interference, satellites, and aircraft due to the signal's frequency, trajectory, and complexity.
5. Hypothesis
- Proposes two possibilities:
- Artificial Extraterrestrial Origin: Suggests advanced technology and deliberate transmission.
- Unknown Phenomenon: Points to a potential rare astrophysical or non-physical process.
6. Visual Evidence
- Includes a plot of the source's trajectory within Beam 2's oval-shaped field of view, highlighting its complex motion and extended presence in the beam.
7. Conclusion
- Concludes that the WOW! signal defies explanation by known phenomena and hints at a highly advanced or extraterrestrial origin.
- Emphasizes the need for further observations to resolve its mystery.
