In 2001, a crop circle appeared in a field beside the Chilbolton Observatory in Hampshire, England. This intricate formation featured a humanoid figure holding a disk-shaped object, as well as a series of dots and lines arranged in a rectangular pattern. The design was estimated to be about 200 feet in diameter and was composed of flattened wheat stalks, appearing overnight and causing a stir in the community.
Many people believe that the Chilbolton crop circle was a response to the Arecibo radio telescope message that was sent out by scientists in 1974. The Arecibo message was a series of binary digits transmitted towards the globular star cluster M13, with the hopes of communicating with intelligent extraterrestrial life. The message contained information about human biology, our solar system, and our technology, among other things.
The Chilbolton crop circle is thought to be a response to the Arecibo message because of the similarities between the two designs. The humanoid figure in the Chilbolton formation appears to be holding a disk-shaped object, which some have interpreted as a representation of the Arecibo radio telescope message itself. Additionally, the rectangular pattern of dots and lines in the Chilbolton crop circle bears a striking resemblance to the binary code used in the Arecibo message.
