# Did the hydroacoustic signal come from the same event as the flash? · 1979 Vela incident > Three answers have been proposed. The Ascension and Argentia signals came from an explosion near the Prince Edward Islands at the flash time. leads, with… Source: https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/vela-incident/questions/QST0CW4WY7E4HGQ/did-the-hydroacoustic-signal-come-from-the-same-event-as-the Publisher: Mysteries Department Licence: CC BY 4.0 (credit Mysteries Department and link the page) Updated: 2026-10-26T11:59:03+00:00 --- **0** # Did the hydroacoustic signal come from the same event as the flash? Asked 26 Oct 2026 by [**apollo** ](https://mysteriesdept.com/u/apollo)·Part of [Was the signal of 22 September 1979 a nuclear explosion?](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/vela-incident/questions/QST0CW4WXZM2TV0/was-the-signal-of-22-september-1979-a-nuclear-explosion)·3 answers·0·0 following **Most likely: the Ascension and Argentia signals came from an explosion near the Prince Edward Islands at the flash time** Ahead on the evidence, not yet confirmed. It needs two reviews to be accepted. ## Where it stands Three answers have been proposed. The Ascension and Argentia signals came from an explosion near the Prince Edward Islands at the flash time. leads, with evidence 3 for: partly supported by its tests. Two are still possible. ## Why it matters An independent signal at the right time and place would be strong corroboration, and the NRL director in 1979 regarded it as decisive⁠[[1]](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0CW4WN6C7XSV/revisiting-the-1979-vela-mystery-a-report-on-a-critical-oral); the Ruina panel did not accept it⁠[[2]](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0CW4WMYJ4E2N/the-22-september-1979-vela-incident-radionuclide-and). ## Answers 3 [**The Ascension and Argentia signals came from an explosion near the Prince Edward Islands at the flash time.** ](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/vela-incident/answers/ANS0CW4X3KA5093/the-ascension-and-argentia-signals-came-from-an-explosion) Partly supported by its tests Evidence: 3 for Most likely [**None of these.** ](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/vela-incident/answers/ANS0CW4X52668AK/none-of-these) Not tested enough to call either way Evidence: none yet Still possible [**The signal had another source, natural or man-made, and its timing is coincidental.** ](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/vela-incident/answers/ANS0CW4X4JJ2KT7/the-signal-had-another-source-natural-or-man-made-and-its) Not tested enough to call either way Evidence: 1 for Still possible ## History 1. 1980[Office of Science and Technology Policy (panel chaired by Jack Ruina) puts forward: the signal had another source, natural or man-made, and its timing is coincidental.](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0CW4WK021RSG/ad-hoc-panel-report-on-the-september-22-event) 1. 2018[De Geer & Wright puts forward: the Ascension and Argentia signals came from an explosion near the Prince Edward Islands at the flash time.](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0CW4WMYJ4E2N/the-22-september-1979-vela-incident-radionuclide-and) 1. 2018[De Geer & Wright: signal at SNR over 300, bearing 198 ± 10 degrees, path about 10,000 km, origin time about 00:52 UTC.](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0CW4WMYJ4E2N/the-22-september-1979-vela-incident-radionuclide-and)For: The Ascension and Argentia signals came from an explosion near the Prince Edward Islands at the flash time. 1. 2018[De Geer & Wright: the Ruina panel judged the hydroacoustic evidence not persuasive.](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0CW4WMYJ4E2N/the-22-september-1979-vela-incident-radionuclide-and)For: The signal had another source, natural or man-made, and its timing is coincidental. 1. 2020[Cohen & Burr: alan Berman, NRL director, stated the data persuaded him of a detonation near the Prince Edward Islands.](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0CW4WN6C7XSV/revisiting-the-1979-vela-mystery-a-report-on-a-critical-oral)For: The Ascension and Argentia signals came from an explosion near the Prince Edward Islands at the flash time. 1. 26 Oct 2026Asked on this site ## Discussion 0 [Add to the discussion](https://mysteriesdept.com/signin?next=/mysteries/vela-incident/questions/QST0CW4WY7E4HGQ/did-the-hydroacoustic-signal-come-from-the-same-event-as-the%23discussion) Help with this question [ **Propose an answer** Something the evidence could support or rule out ] [ **Propose an answer** Something the evidence could support or rule out ](https://mysteriesdept.com/signin?next=/mysteries/vela-incident/questions/QST0CW4WY7E4HGQ/did-the-hydroacoustic-signal-come-from-the-same-event-as-the%23add-answer) [ **Add evidence** A result for or against an answer ] [ **Add evidence** A result for or against an answer ](https://mysteriesdept.com/signin?next=/mysteries/vela-incident/questions/QST0CW4WY7E4HGQ/did-the-hydroacoustic-signal-come-from-the-same-event-as-the%23add-evidence) [ **Ask a sub-question** A smaller question that would help settle this one ] [ **Ask a sub-question** A smaller question that would help settle this one ](https://mysteriesdept.com/signin?next=/mysteries/vela-incident/questions/QST0CW4WY7E4HGQ/did-the-hydroacoustic-signal-come-from-the-same-event-as-the%23add-question) [ **Add a source** A paper, archive record or image ] [ **Add a source** A paper, archive record or image ](https://mysteriesdept.com/signin?next=/mysteries/vela-incident/questions/QST0CW4WY7E4HGQ/did-the-hydroacoustic-signal-come-from-the-same-event-as-the%23add-source) Where it fits 1979 Vela incident [**Was the signal of 22 September 1979 a nuclear explosion?** ](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/vela-incident/questions/QST0CW4WXZM2TV0/was-the-signal-of-22-september-1979-a-nuclear-explosion)Key question · most likely a low-yield atmospheric nuclear test of a few kilotons, near the ocean surface **Did the hydroacoustic signal come from the same event as the flash?** You're here · the Ascension and Argentia signals came from an explosion near the Prince Edward Islands at the flash time [Was the iodine-131 in Australian sheep thyroids fallout from the event?](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/vela-incident/questions/QST0CW4WYF84TRD/was-the-iodine-131-in-australian-sheep-thyroids-fallout-from)Most likely · the iodine-131 came from a test near the Prince Edward Islands, carried east and rained out over… [ Ask a question under this one ]