We observe new worlds from afar first with telescopes, then spacecraft flybys, then robotic orbital missions, followed perhaps by human missions. How we eventually study the surface of anew world will be based on space-based observations, As we send landers and rovers we will gather ground truth that allows us to calibrate what we see form space with what is actually present ont he surface. Since Earth is also a planet – and we have easy access to space and the entire surface – it makes ssense to use Earth as a an analog for how we’d study new worlds – especially to search for biosignatures – indicators of life. Large surface features cause by life forms such as the ones in this posting lend themsleves to orbital imaging and analysis.
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