Link to full article

SPACE.com clara Moskowitz
staff Writer
space.com – Mon Oct 13, 6:45 am ET

A new study is underway to search for signs of habitability ... on Earth.

If that sounds like the ultimate waste of science funding, take a closer look. The project is designed to scan Earth from a distance and note the evidence for habitability, so that we can better detect that evidence on distant worlds. In essence, if we want to find life on alien planets, we have to study a planet known to host life to determine what clues to look for, scientists say.

The researchers are using the European Space Agency's Venus Express satellite, in orbit around our neighbor planet, to study Earth from afar, where it appears smaller than a pixel in the spacecraft's cameras, with no surface details visible.

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. . . Thank You Dr Who Fan - excellent Article

A more subtle signal that could differentiate the two types of worlds is the so-called red edge
the infrared signal caused by photosynthetic life. "Green plants are bright in the near infrared," Grinspoon said.

The Venus Express team is only beginning to analyze the Earth data to see if our planet's red edge is detectable from a distance.
The researchers also plan to study the signature of Earth when the ocean-sides of our planet are facing Venus,
compared to when the continents are face-on

Link to full article

SPACE.com clara Moskowitz
staff Writer
space.com – Mon Oct 13, 6:45 am ET

A new study is underway to search for signs of habitability ... on Earth.

If that sounds like the ultimate waste of science funding, take a closer look. The project is designed to scan Earth from a distance and note the evidence for habitability, so that we can better detect that evidence on distant worlds. In essence, if we want to find life on alien planets, we have to study a planet known to host life to determine what clues to look for, scientists say.

The researchers are using the European Space Agency's Venus Express satellite, in orbit around our neighbor planet, to study Earth from afar, where it appears smaller than a pixel in the spacecraft's cameras, with no surface details visible.

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BOINC Wiki . . .

Science Status Page . . .

Yes a very good article.

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What you do today you will have to live with tonight

How about seeing all the manmade lights on the dark side? From how far would that be visible? This includes signatures outside the visible spectrum.

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