We have beamed messages to extraterrestrial intelligence mostly to far-off locations: 13, 15, 16, 21, 21, 30, 33, 37, 41, 41, 41, 41, 46, 52, 56, 56, 58, 58, 58, 68, 69, 70, 250, 431, 25000 light years away. Only 6 locations out of total 25 were nearer than 30 light years. (see link1)
However, we seem to have never sent any messages to our closest stellar sun-like companions (4.3, 4.3, 10, 12, 16, 19, 20, 24, 26, 29 light years away), which were chosen as primary targets for the cancelled "Terrestrial Planet Finder" program. There are at least 4 promising places nearer than 12 light years away. (see link2)
The idea is simply, to use METI methodology to probe for life in these close sun-like stars, which were primary targets for TPF. We won't find microbial life, but the possibility of finding intelligent life cannot be ruled out, except for the youngest stars in the list.
Nearer distances mean less scattering of our signal, and higher likelihood of being able to communicate.
And, we just might have some results as soon as in 8.6 years!-- Inyuki, Dec 27 2011 (link1) Current transmissions on route http://en.wikipedia...nsmissions_on_route [Inyuki, Dec 27 2011] (link2) Terrestrial Planet Finder targets http://en.wikipedia...Top_10_target_stars [Inyuki, Dec 27 2011] If you want "nearer distances," why not beam messages to extraterrestrial civilizations presently visiting the Earth? Judging by the variety of spacecraft, there must be a dozen of them.-- ldischler, Dec 27 2011 How do you know the ones already visiting us are from nearer planets? IIRC the "most likely" distance to find intelligent life is 2000 light years.-- DIYMatt, Dec 27 2011 It doesn't matter where they're from originally, Matt. If they are mucking about in the Solar System, they are close enough.-- ldischler, Dec 27 2011 i wonder if the stonehenge people were using the bluestone to do spectroscopy - using the positioning of the sun, moon, stars, horizon and stones to bend the light in some way so that they could perceive the spectroscopic disturbances as a real-time "movie" of remote inter-stellar activity?-- JesusHChrist, Dec 28 2011 random, halfbakery