Guided Primary Source Analysis: Hello, Earth! Hello!

Click the newspaper above to zoom in and read the article. Make a chart that lists the name of each scientist or inventor mentioned in the article, whether the expert was quoted directly or indirectly, and the expert’s view of the possibility of communication with other planets.

Find out more information about the publisher of this newspaper, then review the Analyzing Newspaper Articles post. Do you think this article is accurate and reliable? Why or why not?

Compare and contrast this newspaper article with the following article published in the May, 1919 issue of Popular Science Monthly: Talking Across 34,000,000 Miles to Mars. What similarities and differences do you notice? Which article seems more accurate and reliable? Explain the reasoning for your choice.

What other observations, reflections or questions does this source inspire? Let us know!

For more ideas on using this newspaper article, read the following Teaching with the Library of Congress blog post: Primary Sources in the Science Classroom: Signals from Mars? Venus?