2MASS 19281982−2640123

2MASS 19281982−2640123

Approximate location of the Wow! Signal in the constellation of Sagittarius
Observation data
Epoch J2000.0      Equinox J2000.0
Constellation Sagittarius
Right ascension 19h 28m 19.821s
Declination −26° 40′ 12.33″
Characteristics
Apparent magnitude (G) 13.38
Astrometry
Radial velocity (Rv)−13.71±6.02 km/s
Proper motion (μ) RA: −5.522±0.022 mas/yr
Dec.: −16.529±0.017 mas/yr
Parallax (π)1.8244±0.0194 mas
Distance1,790 ± 20 ly
(548 ± 6 pc)
Details
Radius0.997 R
Luminosity1.0007 L
Temperature5783 K
Other designations
Gaia DR2 6766185791864654720, Gaia DR3 6766185791864654720
Database references

2MASS 19281982−2640123 is a Sun-like star located in the area of Sagittarius constellation where the Wow! Signal is most widely believed to have originated. The star was identified in a 2022 paper as the most similar to the Sun out of the three solar analogs found inside the sky region. The star is 1,800 light years away; this is approximately 132 light years away from Claudio Maccone's estimation of where the closest communicative civilization to Earth is most likely to exist per his calculated solution to the Drake Equation.

The star has a right ascension of 19h 28m 19.821s, a declination of −26° 40′ 12.33″, an estimated temperature of 5,783 Kelvin, a radius of 0.99 solar radii, and a luminosity 1.0007 times that of the Sun. The team used the Gaia Archive to identify another dozen of candidates to be Sun-like stars, but the estimations on their luminosity were unknown.