The Wow! Trip

The Arecibo Wow! team has recently updated the characteristics of the Wow! Signal, utilizing archived data provided by the staff scientists and engineers who previously operated the Big Ear telescope in Delaware, Ohio. Our analysis revealed slight adjustments regarding the signal's location, intensity, and frequency, as well as similar signals attributable to natural emissions from galactic hydrogen clouds.

Additionally, we identified other noteworthy properties and signals requiring further investigation; however, these have not been included in our most recent publication pending verification through additional data. While substantial data has been obtained from this telescope, a significant volume remains preserved on paper across various locations in Ohio. Some records are suitable for straightforward scanning, but the majority will necessitate considerable resources for digitization and transcription.

This October 2025, members of the Arecibo Wow! team will travel to Ohio to evaluate the available paper data and proceed with scanning those documents that are readable, accessible, or of high priority. We also intend to conduct interviews with the scientists and engineers affiliated with the Big Ear telescope, aiming to compile a comprehensive timeline of events surrounding the detection of the Wow! Signal. Our primary objective is to safeguard both the scientific and historical legacy of this telescope.

Our research trip and subsequent data analysis are partially supported by institutional funding, though public contributions remain essential to fully realize our goals. We anticipate that these efforts will yield additional valuable insights into the Wow! Signal and potentially uncover new findings within the decades of accumulated data from this historic telescope.

Video about the Wow! Signal created by Paola using OpenSpace