If you wanted a friend to come to visit you and they lived far, far away, you would probably send them a map so they wouldn't get lost. If they lived in another country and knew very little about where you lived, you might send them information about what to expect when they got here. If they didn't speak your language, you might have to draw pictures. When people travel in different countries they use road signs that have pictures as well as writing. When scientists on Earth started sending out space probes, they sent along discs that had maps of the sky containing certain stars that showed where Earth was located. They sent along songs and information about life here on Earth. All of the information was recorded in many languages. Astronomers using the Hubble telescope have found new planets in other galaxies and they are hoping they will find more. The information sent on these probes called Voyager 1 and 2 may never reach intelligent life forms in outer space, but think how exciting it would be if these terrestrial messages reached someone in space and they answered back. If you were going to send a message to outer space, what would you say? Would you write it in just one language or several different languages and how would you send it? Would you send pictures, drawings, or recorded words or music?

Try This

Universal Code

Do you think if we ever found life on another planet that they would understand us? Can you communicate without speaking? How about using a code? Just write down the alphabet and give each letter a new letter in place of it. Be sure you give your friends a copy of the code so they can read your messages.