After years of searching, the stories lead scientist finds conclusive radio proof of extraterrestrial intelligence, who are sending her plans for a mysterious machine. This film was an adaptation of a novel by Carl Sagan. Several radio telescopes where shown in the movie, including the Arecibo Observatory in Puerto Rico. The actual observatory site was clean-up for the film with the help of computers. The collection of telescopes shown later in the film are from the Very Large Array from the San Augustin Plains at Socorro, New Mexico. The VLA consists of 27 dishes arranged along three 13-mile arms.