WATCH THE SKIES

When UFOs arrive

The U.S. and other world governments already have detailed secret plans for first contact. Within the scientific community, the question is no longer whether extraterrestrial life exists, but if ET is smart enough to do long division.
Governments and international organizations around the world, with little public fanfare, have begun preparing for first contact: the moment earthlings discover incontrovertible proof that they are not alone.
The broad-brush outline for Earth's response to the first alien encounter is set out in an international agreement called the "Declaration of Principles Concerning Activities Following the Detection of Extraterrestrial Intelligence." Written by a committee of scientists organized by the SETI Institute, the declaration spells out what astronomers should do, and what they should avoid doing - namely telling people, immediately after first contact.