http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wow_signal
The Wow! signal was a strong narrowband radio signal detected by the statistics professor Jerry R. Ehman on August 15, 1977 while working on a SETI project at the Big Ear radio telescope of Ohio State University. The signal bore expected earmarks of potential non-terrestrial and non-solar system origin. It lasted for 72 seconds and has not been detected thereafter. The nature of the signal is therefore unknown and only a few possibilities can be considered. Since its discovery, it has been the focus of attention in the mainstream media when talking about SETI results.
Amazed by the signal, how narrowband it was, and the exact match to the intensity variation a localized signal would produce in the antenna used, J. R. Ehman circled the signal on the computer printout and wrote the comment "Wow!" on its side. This comment became the name of the signal.
