Support Us Button Widget

It’s a bird, it’s a plane, it’s...a marketing campaign

Hey Aliens, want to take a trip to the Horse Capital of the World?

A laptop screen with a logo that says "LEX Mission 859" above a blue horse shooting lasers out of its eyes.

Caution: UFOs crossing. | Photo courtesy of VisitLEX

We’ve always known that Lexington is out of this world, so why not entice our extraterrestrial friends to see it for themselves?

In what is the world’s first interstellar tourism campaign, the team at VisitLEX and a group of scientists came together at the Kentucky Horse Park to beam a Lexington-specific message into space. Yeah, you read that right.

Using an infrared laser, the team was able to send a coded invitation to the TRAPPIST-1 solar system, just a measly 40 light years away, with messages highlighting:

  • Prime numbers
  • The symbol for water + ethanol (because, bourbon)
  • The symbol for dopamine
  • Images, such as horses and landscapes, representing Lexington
  • An audio recording from Tee Dee Young

While we wait for the message to get delivered in ~39 years, we want to know: If you had to create a Lexington itinerary for aliens, what would be on the agenda?

More from LEXtoday
The 16th annual edition of Small Business Saturday falls on November 29 — the perfect time to help you add a local sparkle into your holiday shopping.
Whether you opt for a live tree each year, or want to start a new treedition, this list of local spots can help kickstart your search.
Take the stress out of holiday decorating this year. Let Lexington’s local experts bring your home to life with festive lights and decor.
Shop local at these holiday markets showcasing Lexington-based vendors, Kentucky businesses, artists, and craftspeople.
Three Lexington-area residents tested their wits and nerves on Netflix’s global competition. From the casting process to the games themselves, the experience challenged them in unexpected ways.
Got a hot new fling? Hoping to spice things up with your longtime partner? We’re here to help plan your next date in the Horse Capital of the World.
Our favorite dine-in and carry-out options for Thanksgiving dinner in Lexington this year, plus local ingredients.
Over the next 10 days, we’re launching a reader-driven campaign to sustain what we do best.
Potholes happen, but fixing them starts with a simple report. Here’s how to alert the right team and keep Lexington’s streets in better shape.
Explore these dog-friendly places in LEX — from places to eat, drink, shop, exercise, swim, and stay the night with your four-legged friends.