August 1977

Wednesday 03:

United States Senate Hearing on MKULTRA.

Thursday 04:

US President Jimmy Carter signs legislation creating the United States Department of Energy.

Wednesday 10:

In Yonkers, New York, 24-year-old postal employee David Berkowitz ("Son of Sam") is arrested for a series of killings in the New York City area over a year's period.

Monday 15:

The Big Ear, a radio telescope operated by The Ohio State University as part of the SETI project, receives a radio signal from deep space; the event is named the "WOW!" signal for notation made by a volunteer on the project.

Saturday 20:

Voyager program: The United States launches the Voyager 2 spacecraft.