--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: In the next century or two, we humans…" description: "\"In the next century or two, we humans will have planet-finder telescopes that span our solar system with mirrors strewn from here to Jupiter, giving us..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b51/geoffrey-marcy-64559_aliens_in-the-next-century-or-two-we-humans-wil_662215.jpg" --- # In the next century or two, we humans will have… ![“In the next century or two, we humans will have planet-finder telescopes that span our solar system with mirrors strewn from here to Jupiter, giving us enormous angular resolution so we can do the kind of science that a self-respecting advanced civilization ought to be doing. We should someday be…” quote by Geoffrey Marcy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b51/geoffrey-marcy-64559_aliens_in-the-next-century-or-two-we-humans-wil_662215.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b51/geoffrey-marcy-64559_aliens_in-the-next-century-or-two-we-humans-wil_662215.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b51/geoffrey-marcy-64559_aliens_in-the-next-century-or-two-we-humans-wil_662215.jpg) > “In the next century or two, we humans will have planet-finder telescopes that span our solar system with mirrors strewn from here to Jupiter, giving us enormous angular resolution so we can do the kind of science that a self-respecting advanced civilization ought to be doing. We should someday be imaging the continents on other planets. We can't do that yet, but aliens can do that already, so they know we are here.” [Geoffrey Marcy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geoffrey-marcy/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Humanity will build massive space‑based telescopes to resolve planetary surfaces, a capability already possessed by advanced extraterrestrials, implying they can detect us. **In simple terms:** We’ll build huge telescopes to see other worlds; aliens might already see us. Key Takeaway Invest in large‑scale space optics. Themes exploration technology extraterrestrials observation Mood curious inspired Type speculative visionary When to use this quote - space missions - planetary science - search for alien life Key Concepts optical interferometry exoplanet imaging SETI Questions to Reflect On - What would it mean for humanity if we could image alien continents? - How can we prepare for potential detection by extraterrestrials? A Different Perspective Technological limits and funding challenges may delay such projects. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Aliens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/aliens/) [Galaxy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/galaxy/) [Giving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/giving/) [Resolution](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/resolution/) [Science](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/science/) [Solar system](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/solar-system/) [Telescopes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/telescopes/) ## Related quotes > [Kid says to me, "You play baseball? What position? Left out?" and gets a big laugh from the rest of the class. Kid is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jodi-picoult/kid-says-to-me-you-play-baseball-what-position-left-out-and-gets-a/) [Jodi Picoult](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jodi-picoult/) > [The discovery in 1846 of the planet Neptune was a dramatic and spectacular achievement of mathematical astronomy. 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