Budapest Post

Cum Deo pro Patria et Libertate
Budapest, Europe and world news

Study identifies planets and star systems where alien life could be able to observe human activity on Earth

Study identifies planets and star systems where alien life could be able to observe human activity on Earth

Scientists calculated that 1,715 nearby stars and hundreds of probable planets have had an unobstructed view of Earth.

Planets where alien life could be able to observe human activity on Earth have been identified by scientists.

Astronomers from Cornell University estimate there are 29 potentially habitable planets in Earth's cosmic neighbourhood where alien life could potentially see and hear evidence of humans.

Using a technique used to look for life on other planets, scientists calculated that 1,715 nearby star systems and hundreds of probable Earth-like planets circling those stars have had an unobstructed view of Earth during human civilization.

"When I look up at the sky, it looks a little bit friendlier because it's like, maybe somebody is waving," said Lisa Kaltenegger, director of the Carl Sagan Institute at Cornell University, and the report's lead author.

Experts, including Stephen Hawking, have previously warned against trying to contact extra-terrestrial life because they could harm us.

But Ms Kaltenegger said if these planets have advanced life, someone out there could conclude there is life on Earth based on oxygen in our atmosphere or by the radio waves from human sources that have swept over 75 of the closest stars on her list.

"Hiding is not really an option," she said.

"From the exoplanets' point-of-view, we are the aliens. We wanted to know which stars have the right vantage point to see Earth as it blocks the Sun's light and because stars move in our dynamic cosmos, this vantage point is gained and lost."

Astronomers can find potentially habitable planets by watching them as they cross in front of the star they are orbiting.

Ms Kaltengger and Jacqueline Faherty, of the American Museum of Natural History, reversed this method and used the European Space Agency's Gaia space telescope to see which star systems could see Earth as it passes in front of the sun.

They observed 331,312 star systems within 326 light-years of Earth and found that 1,715 could see it at some point in the past 5,000 years, including 313 that have now moved out of view

Another 319 will be able to see Earth in the next 5,000 years, included a few systems where scientists have spotted Earth-like planets.

The closest star on Ms Kaltenegger's list is the red dwarf star Wolf 359, which is 7.9 light years away and has been able to see us since the mid-1970s.

Carnegie Institution for Science's Alan Boss, who wasn't part of the study, called the research "provocative."

He said in addition to viewing Earth moving in front of the star, space telescopes nearby could spot us even if the cosmic geometry is wrong.

"So intelligent civilizations who build space telescopes could be studying us right now."

Mr Boss added that we should not expect aliens to show up anytime soon because of the length of time it takes messages and life to travel between stars and civilisations.

AI Disclaimer: An advanced artificial intelligence (AI) system generated the content of this page on its own. This innovative technology conducts extensive research from a variety of reliable sources, performs rigorous fact-checking and verification, cleans up and balances biased or manipulated content, and presents a minimal factual summary that is just enough yet essential for you to function as an informed and educated citizen. Please keep in mind, however, that this system is an evolving technology, and as a result, the article may contain accidental inaccuracies or errors. We urge you to help us improve our site by reporting any inaccuracies you find using the "Contact Us" link at the bottom of this page. Your helpful feedback helps us improve our system and deliver more precise content. When you find an article of interest here, please look for the full and extensive coverage of this topic in traditional news sources, as they are written by professional journalists that we try to support, not replace. We appreciate your understanding and assistance.
Newsletter

Related Articles

0:00
0:00
Close
IMF Upgrades Global Growth Forecast as Weaker Dollar Supports Outlook
House Republicans Move to Defund OECD Over Global Tax Dispute
France Opens Criminal Investigation into X Over Algorithm Manipulation Allegations
Trump Steamrolls EU in Landmark Trade Win: US–EU Trade Deal Imposes 15% Tariff on European Imports
ChatGPT CEO Sam Altman says people share personal info with ChatGPT but don’t know chats can be used as court evidence in legal cases.
Intel Reports Revenue Beats but Sees 81% Rise in Losses
Politics is a good business: Barack Obama’s Reported Net Worth Growth, 1990–2025
UN's Top Court Declares Environmental Protection a Legal Obligation Under International Law
"Crazy Thing": OpenAI's Sam Altman Warns Of AI Voice Fraud Crisis In Banking
The Podcaster Who Accidentally Revealed He Earns Over $10 Million a Year
UK Government Considers Dropping Demand for Apple Encryption Backdoor
Japanese Man Discovers Family Connection Through DNA Testing After Decades of Separation
Russia Signals Openness to Ukraine Peace Talks Amid Escalating Drone Warfare
Switzerland Implements Ban on Mammography Screening
Pogacar Extends Dominance with Stage Fifteen Triumph at Tour de France
President Trump Diagnosed with Chronic Venous Insufficiency After Leg Swelling
CEO Resigns Amid Controversy Over Relationship with HR Executive
NVIDIA Achieves $4 Trillion Valuation Amid AI Demand
Tulsi Gabbard Unveils Evidence Alleging Political Manipulation of Intelligence During Trump Administration
Centrist Criticism of von der Leyen Resurfaces as she Survives EU Confidence Vote
Trump Announces Coca-Cola to Shift to Cane Sugar in U.S. Production
FIFA Pressured to Rethink World Cup Calendar Due to Climate Change
Zelensky Reshuffles Cabinet to Win Support at Home and in Washington
"Can You Hit Moscow?" Trump Asked Zelensky To Make Putin "Feel The Pain"
Church of England Removes 1991 Sexuality Guidelines from Clergy Selection
Superman Franchise Achieves Success with Latest Release
Hungary's Viktor Orban Rejects Agreements on Illegal Migration
Air India Pilot’s Mental Health Records Under Scrutiny
Jamie Dimon Warns Europe Is Losing Global Competitiveness and Flags Market Complacency
Moonshot AI Unveils Kimi K2: A New Open-Source AI Model
Martha Wells Says Humanity Still Far from True Artificial Intelligence
Nvidia Becomes World’s First Four‑Trillion‑Dollar Company Amid AI Boom
EU Delays Retaliatory Tariffs Amid New U.S. Threats on Imports
Trump Proposes Supplying Arms to Ukraine Through NATO Allies
US Opens First Rare Earth Mine in Over 70 Years in Wyoming
Bitcoin Reaches New Milestone of $116,000
Severe Heatwave Claims 2,300 Lives Across Europe
Declining Beer Consumption Signals Cultural Shift in Germany
Emails Leaked: How Passenger Luggage Became a Side Income for Airport Workers
Polish MEP: “Dear Leftists - China is laughing at you, Russia is laughing, India is laughing”
Western Europe Records Hottest June on Record
BRICS Expands Membership with Indonesia and Ten New Partner Countries
Elon Musk Founds a Party Following a Poll on X: "You Wanted It – You Got It!"
China’s Central Bank Consults European Peers on Low-Rate Strategies
France Requests Airlines to Cut Flights at Paris Airports Amid Planned Air Traffic Controller Strike
Poland Implements Border Checks Amid Growing Migration Tensions
Emirates Airline Expands Market Share with New $20 Million Campaign
Amazon Reaches Milestone with Deployment of One Millionth Robot
Yulia Putintseva Calls for Spectator Ejection at Wimbledon Over Safety Concerns
House Oversight Committee Subpoenas Former Jill Biden Aide Amid Investigation into Alleged Concealment of President Biden's Cognitive Health
×