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When we look at a star, we are actually "seeing" that star as it was (and where it was) many years ago. I always thought that if there was a distant planet of a distant star (say 10,000 light-years away), and this planet had a highly reflective surface, and we had a really super telescope, we could see the reflection of the earth as it was 20,000 years ago.

I always thought that if there was a distant planet of a distant star (say 10,000 light-years away), and this planet had a highly reflective surface, and we had a really super telescope, we could see the reflection of the earth as it was 20,000 years ago.

I hate to be the "fly in your soup" so to speak, but viewing the light of a reflected image would show you the present, because it took that light 20,000 years to make the round trip. A telescope only allows us to look into the past when viewing light directly from or close to the source of that light. Now, if you could find a way to accelerate the reflected light, then your concept is feasible.

I've been checking daily for the new images to start pouring in when the new optics in the Hubble get cranked up, there is no telling what we will see and learn from that, and it should be any day now.