‘ET, ET, Where Are You?’ : Earthlings Reach Out to Touch Someone Up There

A boy who hailed a victory by the hometown team and another who spoke of the “quest for knowledge” were among the first Earthlings to try to reach out and touch extraterrestrial beings today via “space phones.”

Using free phones set up through Saturday in the atrium of AT&T; headquarters, the public will have a chance to communicate with someone who could hear their voice long after they’re dead, said AT&T; spokesman Brian Monahan.

About 30 hours of recorded audio-visual messages will be beamed to outer space by the telephone company’s satellite dishes from Thanksgiving to New Year’s Day during the early morning hours when they aren’t being used for business.

Among the first to send messages were students from Manhattan’s Clinton School, whose pronouncements to the aliens ranged from the poignant to the silly.

“I hope the quest for knowledge lasts forever,” said Kiernan Varas, 13, a member of the Young Astronauts of America. He explained later that he was concerned about the damage that drugs are doing to the world. “I hope . . . they don’t get stupid like us.”

Like most of the youngsters, Kiernan said he believes it’s highly probable that someone will see or hear his message.

If so, the aliens will receive an up-to-date basketball report from Moises Bermudez, 13. His message: “I hope you saw the Knicks versus the Bullets, because the Knicks won.”