By The Way...

Thursday, December 27, 2007
1:16:00 PM EST
Hearing Nothing at the moment
Scientists say: Sure, aliens would see Earth as a haven for life:

With a space telescope larger than the Hubble Space Telescope pointed directly at our sun, they say, “hypothetical observers” could measure Earth’s 24-hour rotation period, 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 Eric Ford, a UF assistant professor of astronomy and one of five authors of the paper. “But that could be enough for them to identify our planet as one that likely contains clouds and oceans of liquid water.”

This research may sound whimsical, but it has a serious goal: to provide a road map for Earth-bound astronomers trying to study Earth-like planets — a task expected to become possible in coming decades as more powerful telescopes come on line, said Enric Palle, the lead author of the paper and an astronomer with the Instituto de Astrofisica de Canarias.

Sounds like the opening of War of the Worlds to me: You know, turning their cold baleful eyes on our blue little planet with envy, and the next thing we know there are these creatures zapping us with death rays. Just when I got my life together. Isn't that always the way.

Of course, there is still the little problem of actually getting here. The speed of light: Not just a good idea, it's the law. Thank you, Einstein.


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