Scientists have discovered thousands of planetary systems from which extraterrestrial (UFO) civilizations (if they exist) could be monitoring Earth.
The star systems are relatively close and are in positions that could allow someone to observe our planet.
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Scientists believe that if there are extraterrestrials (UFOs) on planets around these stars, they will be able to observe Earth and figure out if there is life. In fact, they may already have done so.
Just as we see other stars and planets and use this information to understand their atmospheres and their potential to support alien life, aliens may be able to do the same with Earth.
“From their perspective, we are the aliens,” said Lisa Kaltenegger, professor of astronomy and director of Cornell's Carl Sagan Institute in the College of Arts and Sciences.
“We wanted to know which stars have the ability to see Earth,” he said. “And because stars move, that ability comes and goes.”
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In the new study, scientists identified a total of 2,034 star systems, all within 326 light-years of Earth. Of these systems, 1,715 could have spotted our planet since human civilization began. The rest will be able to see us within the next 5,000.
Furthermore, of these stars, 75 are located less than 100 light-years from Earth, a distance close enough for human-generated radio waves to have reached there.
Some of these stars have already been studied by scientists, while others are completely unknown.
Scientists don't have enough data to know the exact conditions around these stars and the planets around them, but they estimate there could be 29 potentially habitable "worlds" that could see Earth in front of the Sun and are close enough to detect radio waves from us.
Therefore, scientists note that the much-discussed question of whether we should hide our presence from extraterrestrial life may not be relevant, since aliens may have already detected us. There are many stars quite close to Earth, and civilizations that may live around them could have recognized and studied Earth.
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The new research used data from the Gaia database, which has a catalog of astronomical objects within 300 light-years of our Sun. By combining this information and examining how the “field of view” to Earth has changed over time, the researchers were able to figure out what would be the right place for extraterrestrials (UFOs) to observe Earth.
Scientists have previously tried to figure out which stars the Earth could see as it passes in front of the Sun, but the new research is the first to examine how this field of view might change over time.
The new study, “Past, present and future stars that can see Earth as a transiting exoplanet”, has been published in Nature.
Source: The Independent
