In new research published in Nature, scientists have released data on which star systems could detect life on Earth if they had intelligent species with the right technology. Within a distance of 326 light-years, there are over 2,000 star systems that have had just the right vantage point. And in the next 5,000 years, more than 300 star systems will be added to that list as everything orbits within the Milky Way.

The press release explains that the team “used positions and motions from the European Space Agency’s Gaia eDR3 catalog to determine which stars enter and exit the Earth Transit Zone – and for how long.” Within that catalog of systems are seven known to host exoplanets, and one of the ones that will get to that point — in about 1,600 years — is the Trappist-1 system.

Study co-author Jackie Faherty leaves us with this thought: One might imagine that worlds beyond Earth that have already detected us are making the same plans for our planet and solar system. This catalog is an intriguing thought experiment for which one of our neighbors might be able to find us.

More Information

Cornell University press release

“Past, present and future stars that can see Earth as a transiting exoplanet,” L. Kaltenegger and J. K. Faherty, 2021 June 23, Nature