Mysterious radio signals from space turned out to be interference from the microwave

Photo: Stephen West

Modern radio telescopes used by astronomers to explore space are so accurate and sensitive that they can catch the smallest signals. Moreover, as it turned out, such signals can emanate not only from space objects located thousands of light years from Earth. The source of such signals can be terrestrial devices, in particular, microwave ovens.

Scientists working with Australia’s largest Parks radio telescope have been receiving some strange signals for 17 years, about once or twice a year. And for the first time such signals, called "peritons", were received in 1998. To the credit of scientists, it must be said that almost immediately it was suggested that the peritons were of the earthly origin. The fact is that the signals did not emanate from a certain part of the space, but came from everywhere at once, from the whole firmament. Scientists have decided that the source of the signal - some atmospheric phenomena (possibly lightning). It turned out that the reason is even more banal.


Photo: Ian Waldie / Getty Images
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The source of the mysterious signals was the microwave installed in the back room. When the microwave is no signal was not. But if you open the door before the microwave is finished, then noise was generated. Why are the signals received only once or twice a year, and in the daytime (for Australia) time of day?

Everything is explained simply. The fact is that the telescope is controlled remotely, astronomers working with the system do not live in Parks. However, in the observatory work technicians who serve the entire system, and these people use a microwave oven. Signals were received only if the radio telescope was directed towards the microwave oven, and the operating time of the furnace (and the premature opening of the door) coincided with that of the system.