A team of scientists has recently sent a message into space for aliens, but people some people now fear they are “begging to be invaded” and “lying to aliens”.
Researchers from Kentucky targeted the TRAPPIST-1 system, home to a cool red dwarf star and seven known exoplanets situated approximately 40 light-years away from Earth.
In the transmission, they said: “Hey, aliens! Lexington, Kentucky would be a good place to spend your next deep-space vacation.”
The message, which marked the first interstellar travel advertisement, was sent by VisitLEX, a group associated with the city of Lexington.
The team used a modified infrared laser, approved by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), to send the message.
The interstellar ad campaign is anticipated to reach the TRAPPIST-1 system in 2063.
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Along with the message is a coded bitmap image containing clues about its origin and the intent behind the transmission, as well as photos of Kentucky, pointing out its expansive landscapes as ideal spots for spacecraft landings.
According to VisitLEX’s press release, the extraterrestrial recipients will also discover why Lexington is the best place on Earth for food, bourbon, and music, with an audio recording from the renowned blues musician Tee Dee Young providing a taste of the local musical scene.
Robert Lodder, an astrobiologist and scientist with the Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence (SETI), explained the choice of targeting the TRAPPIST-1 system.
He said: “We are targeting the TRAPPIST-1 system because we might get an answer in somebody’s lifetime if there’s somebody there watching.
“But the reason scientists have been interested in it lately is because of the large number of planets it has in what is considered to be the habitable zone.
“So, there could be life there. Why not send a signal and see if they answer?”
The message was sent last month from Lexington’s Kentucky Horse Park Museum and Event Center.
Many people attended the event, but not everyone is in favour of it.
Several people took to social media to criticise the message.
“They’re trying to get us killed for real,” one person said on Instagram.
“POV: Begging to be invaded,” another Instagram user remarked.
“So we out here lying to aliens, great,” a third person added.
