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Could An ExtraTerrestrial Find Earth with a Telescope?

Posted by Zonk on from the helloooo-up-there dept.

Active Seti writes "If aliens were hunting life outside their own planet, could they peer through the vastness of space and lock onto Earth as a likely home for life? Researchers say with a roughly Hubble-sized array observers could measure Earth's 24-hour rotation period, possibly leading to observations of oceans and the chance of life. 'They would only be able to see Earth as a single pixel, rather than resolving it to take a picture,' said Astronomer Eric Ford. 'But that could be enough for them to identify our planet as one that likely contains clouds and oceans of liquid water.' The research will be useful to astronomers designing the next generation of space telescopes on our planet, because it provides an outline of the capabilities required for studying the surfaces of Earth-like worlds."

3 of 179 comments (clear)

  1. And then there is the possibility by elgee · · Score: 5, Interesting

    That ET will find us with a microscope.

  2. Intergalactic quarantine symbol by Hognoxious · · Score: 5, Funny

    Rings around a gas giant means "keep the hell away from this system and don't, whatever you do, let the inhabitants get out".

    --
    Confucius say, "Find worm in apple - bad. Find half a worm - worse."
  3. We've Already Been Discovered by DavidD_CA · · Score: 5, Funny

    We've already been discovered, twice.

    The first time: they discussed us using irrelevant analogies, took a senseless poll, said things like "imagine a Beowulf cluster of these" and "itsatrap!", and one alien remarked "I, for one, welcome our new Earthling overlords."

    The second time: they just shouted "DUPE!" and moved on.

    --
    -David