# Is it feasible to detect light emitted from planet earth 2,000 years ago by reflection from an object situated 1000 light years away?

The possibility though remote, is intriguing as we may be able in the future to actually "see" our own planet's history. Though sounding science fiction, if we are able to detect bodies in space that are able of reflecting light emitted from our planet earth, using amplification systems and filters,this may - if possible, give us a tool of utmost importance.

-
–  Qmechanic Jan 21 '13 at 0:51
Yes. It is possible to do so. –  Monster Truck Jan 21 '13 at 1:03
We'd want to calculate the number of photons that are incident & then reflected from the earth (from the sun, the brightest source in our vicinity), then assume a $\frac{1}{r^2}$ law to see how many of those reflected photons hit the distant planet, then determine what fraction of those photons are reflected from the distant planet, give it another $\frac{1}{r^2}$ law on the way back, and see how many photons get back to us. I'm guessing it's <<1 per year, but haven't done the math. At that rate, it's going to be hard to separate that expected photon each year from noise. –  Will Cross Jan 21 '13 at 3:55