<p>In the opposite direction (RA= 07h 25m 31s ± 10s, +26° 57′ ± 20′, J2000.0, seen from Earth) of the positive horn of the <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZAKy_08klrg" rel="nofollow">Wow!-signal</a> (RA= 19h 25m 31s ± 10s, −26° 57′ ± 20′, in J2000.0 coordinates), <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iota_Geminorum" rel="nofollow">Iota Geminorum</a>, aka Propus, (RA= 07h 25m 43.6s, +27° 47' 53") is within a 3-sigma error ellipse (1.26 sigma in RA, 2.54 sigma in Dec, 2.84 sigma total error).</p>

<p>However, this doesn't reveal, whether the signal pointed to anywhere.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-02-03T08:17:44.237Z
@Keith wouldn't this assumption rely in the detectability of Sol's planets for the sender?
draks ...
CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-02-03T20:30:30.873Z
@draks...Sure, the sender likely wouldn't have sent a directional signal at us without knowing that Sol has planets.
Keith Thompson
CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-03-11T14:55:47.523Z
"120-126 light-years from Earth" sounds worth an investigation. I assume that it's not known whether it has planets.
draks ...
CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-03-11T15:29:23.717Z
According to this (http://www.hpcf.upr.edu/~abel/phl/exomaps/all_stars_with_exoplanets_white.png) map no planets of Propus are known yet.
Gerald
CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-03-12T01:13:37.097Z
@draks...: But we know Sol does have planets. If there was a target (a big assumption), it's more likely to be us than Propus, particularly since we're about 120 light-years closer to ... whatever.
Keith Thompson
CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-04-04T21:32:24.160Z
@KeithThompson You can't assume that signal was directed at us. What reason do you have to believe that the signal was meant for us besides the fact that we are here. I believe that the best assumption is no assumption. We have no information that lets us assume it was for us.
TheBluegrassMathematician
CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-04-04T21:37:06.050Z
@RyanMcGaha: I'm not assuming anything. I'm disputing the question's implicit assumption that it *wasn't* directed at us. *If* it was deliberately sent in one particular direction, the fact that we received it implies that it was directed at us, or at someone or something directly between us and the source, or at someone or something directly behind us along the same path. Of the available candidates (Sol and Propus), Sol seems more likely, because, as I said we *know* Sol has planets.
Keith Thompson
CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-03-11T14:24:35.533Z
2014-03-11T14:24:35.533Z
Gerald
<p>We probably all know the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wow!_signal" rel="noreferrer">Wow!-Signal</a>, happened on August 15, 1977. Assume that it wasn't meant for us. What was it pointing at then?</p>

<p>The signal at that time came from RA= 19h25m31s ± 10s or 19h28m22s ± 10s and the declination becomes −26°57′ ± 20′. </p>

<p>Which stars could it point at and did anybody investigate this?</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-03-12T01:12:08.570Z
You're assuming the signal was aimed in a particular direction rather than being broadcast in all directions.
Keith Thompson
<extra-terrestrial><astrometry>
If the Wow! signal was not directed at us, then where?
draks ...
# If the Wow! signal was not directed at us, then where?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2014-03-10)

We probably all know the [Wow!-Signal](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wow!_signal), happened on August 15, 1977. Assume that it wasn't meant for us. What was it pointing at then?

The signal at that time came from RA= 19h25m31s ± 10s or 19h28m22s ± 10s and the declination becomes −26°57′ ± 20′.

Which stars could it point at and did anybody investigate this?

**Tags:** extra-terrestrial, astrometry
> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: You're assuming the signal was aimed in a particular direction rather than being broadcast in all directions.  

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## 1 answers

### Answer by username_2 on 2014-03-11. Score: 3 | Accepted answer

In the opposite direction (RA= 07h 25m 31s ± 10s, +26° 57′ ± 20′, J2000.0, seen from Earth) of the positive horn of the [Wow!-signal](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZAKy_08klrg) (RA= 19h 25m 31s ± 10s, −26° 57′ ± 20′, in J2000.0 coordinates), [Iota Geminorum](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iota_Geminorum), aka Propus, (RA= 07h 25m 43.6s, +27° 47' 53") is within a 3-sigma error ellipse (1.26 sigma in RA, 2.54 sigma in Dec, 2.84 sigma total error).

However, this doesn't reveal, whether the signal pointed to anywhere.

> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: "120-126 light-years from Earth" sounds worth an investigation. I assume that it's not known whether it has planets.  
> **username_2**: According to this (http://www.hpcf.upr.edu/~abel/phl/exomaps/all_stars_with_exoplanets_white.png) map no planets of Propus are known yet.  
> **username_1**: @draks...: But we know Sol does have planets. If there was a target (a big assumption), it's more likely to be us than Propus, particularly since we're about 120 light-years closer to ... whatever.  
> **username_3**: @KeithThompson You can't assume that signal was directed at us. What reason do you have to believe that the signal was meant for us besides the fact that we are here. I believe that the best assumption is no assumption. We have no information that lets us assume it was for us.  
> **username_1**: @RyanMcGaha: I'm not assuming anything. I'm disputing the question's implicit assumption that it *wasn't* directed at us. *If* it was deliberately sent in one particular direction, the fact that we received it implies that it was directed at us, or at someone or something directly between us and the source, or at someone or something directly behind us along the same path. Of the available candidates (Sol and Propus), Sol seems more likely, because, as I said we *know* Sol has planets.  
> **username_0**: @Keith wouldn't this assumption rely in the detectability of Sol's planets for the sender?  
> **username_1**: @draks...Sure, the sender likely wouldn't have sent a directional signal at us without knowing that Sol has planets.  

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