Did 3I/ATLAS spark the 1977 'Wow Sign'? Similar area, simply days aside

Harvard astronomer and alien hunter Avi Loeb has floated a daring new concept in regards to the legendary “Wow Sign.” In a recent blog post, he steered that the interstellar object 3I/ATLAS, now passing by way of our photo voltaic system, may need been the supply of the mysterious radio burst picked up by Ohio State’s Large Ear telescope on August 15, 1977

The Wow Sign was recorded at Proper Ascension (RA)=19h25m=291 levels and Declination (Dec)=-27 levels.

At practically the identical time, on August 12, 1977, 3I/ATLAS was about 600 astronomical models (AU) from Earth, some 600 instances the Earth–Solar distance, or roughly a 3-day light-travel time away. Its place then was RA 19h40m (295°levels), Dec -19 levels.

Right here’s the intriguing half: simply three days earlier than the sign was detected, ATLAS had been shifting by way of practically the identical patch of house. The separation was solely about 4 diploma in RA and eight diploma in Dec, an alignment likelihood of simply 0.6%.

If the sign actually got here from 31/ATLAS, its transmitter would have wanted the facility of a nuclear reactor, beaming instantly on the 1420 MHz hydrogen line, the frequency usually dubbed the “cosmic calling card.”

Whereas it could appear far-fetched that 3I/ATLAS might have despatched the Wow Sign, the thing’s uncommon habits thus far means nothing could be fully dominated out. Maybe it’s price scanning 3I/ATLAS for radio emissions.

In time, we’re more likely to study rather more about whether or not 3I/ATLAS is just an odd interstellar comet or one thing much more superior which might catch us off guard.

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