"Lexington, Kentucky Invites Extraterrestrial Visitors with Space Message"

The Lexington Convention and Visitors Bureau in Kentucky has used an infrared laser to beam a message into space, inviting extraterrestrial travelers to visit and promoting tourism by describing the city's attractions such as the bluegrass countryside, horse farms, and bourbon. The message was sent with FAA approval and includes a coded bitmap image, with the effort led by a local expert in computer engineering and astrobiology. The agency acknowledges that it could take up to 40 years to receive any response from its intended target, but in the meantime, invites earthly travelers to visit.