Expert: Tom Whiting - 11/11/2004

Question
Theoretically, if a person could be instintaniously "zapped" from earth to a point in space that is 2000 light years away, could that person see what was happening on earth 2000 years ago. The light that left earth 2000 years ago would barly be reaching that piont in space. And if we had the technology to compile that light into an organized group, could we visually see the past?

Answer
Hi John,
 Yes, you are correct.....IF a person, theoretically, could
be instantly placed to a point 2000 ly distant, then they
would be "seeing" (or hearing, if radio had existed 2000 years
ago) an Earth of  4 BC, or 2000 years ago.  And yes, if
you had a telescope, or equipment,  powerful enough, theoretically, you could image events on the Earth on that date.

[And the reverse is true....if a creature from the Orion Nebula
complex (M-42 in Orion) at 1500 ly distant, could be magically and instantly transported to the Earth, we could only  show that creature its home environment as we see it now; the light tonight would be 1500 years old, as it was when the light left around 500 AD.]

But realize, this is all fantasy fiction, as our physical laws
do not allow this to happen....Einstein with his physical
laws of Special Relativity, do not permit any form of matter
to travel at light speed, let along higher than light speed.
The ultimate speed limit of matter in our Universe is limited
to 99.999999999+ % the speed of light.  Mass grows exponentially to infinity at light speed and time passage stretches to become zero at light speed.  (Time dilation effect).
{These laws have already been demonstrated and proven with cyclotrons and atomic clocks, many times in fact.}
Faster than light, time would become negative (you would go
backward in time) and that's a no-no, as time is strictly
a one-way arrow....(theoretically you can go forward in time,
but never backward. )

It's not only scientifically impossible, there is even a good theological argument against faster than light (backward in
time) travel.....IF an unscrupulous person wished, he could
go back in time, and perhaps mess-up, or screw up,  the Cruxification of Jesus, and that would be a no-no!
Food for thought.
Hope all this helps,
Clear Skies,
Tom Whiting
Erie, PA