The Arecibo Message

The Arecibo Message is a binary-coded message sent into space in 1974 from the Arecibo Observatory in Puerto Rico. Its purpose was to communicate with potential intelligent extraterrestrial life. The message consists of 1,679 bits and includes information about humanity, our DNA structure, the solar system, and a representation of the Arecibo telescope itself. The choice of 1,679 bits allowed it to be arranged into a 73-row by 23-column rectangle. It was aimed at the M13 globular star cluster, located about 25,000 light-years away, as a demonstration of human technological capability and scientific curiosity.