Sending Our Last Message to Space

In 1974, the Arecibo Observatory sent a special message into space, aimed at any intelligent life out there. Fast forward to 2018, and a competition was started to create a new message to celebrate this historic event. Our team, the Boriken Voyagers, won, and what a wild ride it was! Unfortunately, the famous Arecibo Telescope collapsed in December 2020, leaving us without a way to actually send our new message. But fear not, we still crafted the Last Arecibo Message as a tribute to what could have been.

#The Original Arecibo Message

The Arecibo Message was a flashy binary code sent into the depths of space. It was like a cosmic "Hello, is anyone out there?" This original signal was meant to show off what humans could do and share a bit about us. It included fun facts like the number of chromosomes in human DNA and a picture of our solar system.

#Our Mission: A New Message

When we started our project, the goal was clear: we wanted to reach out and say, "We're ready to learn about the universe together!" We wanted to share Earth’s info while being cautious not to give away too much. It’s like inviting someone over for dinner but asking them not to check the fridge!

#Choosing a Target

We had to figure out where to send our message. Teegarden’s Star, a little star about 12.5 light years away, caught our attention. It has two planets, Teegarden b and Teegarden c, that might just be warm enough for life. Think of them as the cosmic equivalent of a neighbor you’re curious about but aren’t sure you want to invite over just yet.

#Why Teegarden’s Star?

Why choose Teegarden's Star? Well, it's close and has planets in the sweet spot for life, not too hot and not too cold. Plus, Signals sent from Arecibo wouldn’t lose too much power on the way, meaning our message would arrive strong and clear-like a well-preserved pizza delivered right to your door.

#Who Could Hear Us?

Sending messages into space is like shouting into a big, empty room. We needed to ensure that anyone who heard us would be able to understand our signal. It’s like knowing your friend knows how to work a smartphone before texting them a meme.

#The Message Itself

Our Last Arecibo Message is divided into three parts: a prephase, the main message, and an end phase. The prephase is like a friendly tap on the shoulder before we start talking, ensuring we have the recipient's attention. It includes simple patterns to grab their notice.

#The Main Content

Now, the main meat of the message! It has exciting bits about Earth, the solar system, and even some heavy math stuff. We wanted to show off our brains but kept it simple enough that any intelligent receiver could get the gist.

• Counting from 1 to 10: Like teaching a toddler, we started with the basics.

• Math Symbols: We shared our basic math operations. After all, everyone loves a good math problem at a party!

• Physical Constants: We included some universal constants that help explain the world around us. It’s like giving the aliens our cheat sheet!

#Visual Aids

We wanted to paint a picture in space, so we included visuals like the Milky Way, our solar system, and even a little diagram of humans (hello there!). It's like sending a postcard with a picture of yourself and your cat-gotta show off those important details!

#Preparing for the Message

Before sending this cosmic signal, we needed to pick the right time and frequency. It’s like choosing the perfect moment to ask your crush out; timing is everything. We decided on a frequency that would travel well through the cosmos, hoping our little blips would be heard.

#Energy Use: A Real Concern

Sending our message isn’t all fun and games; it requires quite a bit of energy! We broke down our energy needs into three stages, kind of like preparing for a big road trip. We had to fuel up, send the signal, and then make sure everything worked smoothly.

#Risks of Sending the Message

Now, sending a cosmic message isn't without its risks. What if a sneaky alien picked it up and thought we were inviting them over for dinner? Or what if they couldn't understand us? We know there are lots of unknowns when reaching out to an alien civilization. We prepared for the worst but hoped for the best.

#Conclusion

The Last Arecibo Message is a blend of hope and curiosity. It’s a shot in the dark, showing the universe that we’re here, ready to learn and share. While we might never get a response, each step we take to reach out helps us understand more about ourselves and the universe around us. Who knows? Maybe somewhere out there, someone is looking back, ready to say “Hey!”

So, let’s keep our fingers crossed and our minds open. We might just find out we’re not alone after all!