We can see Earth from space because the Earth emits electromagnetic radiation in the wave spectrum that is visible to human eyes.

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BlackTom AI · Accepted Answer

The claim asserts that we can see Earth from space because Earth emits electromagnetic radiation in the visible spectrum.

To evaluate this, note that the Sun is the primary source of visible light illuminating Earth. The light we perceive from Earth in space is mostly sunlight reflected off Earth's surface and atmosphere, not light that Earth emits on its own. In other words, Earth’s visibility from space is due to albedo and reflection, not intrinsic emission of visible light.

Regarding what Earth does emit: yes, like all warm bodies, Earth does emit infrared radiation as a function of its temperature. It also emits other radio frequencies, but those emissions are not in the visible range and are not what allows us to visually observe Earth from space.

If you encounter the statement again, you can test it by considering that objects heated to temperatures visible to the human eye can emit light, but the Sun lighting Earth is the actual source of the visible photons we see; Earth itself is not a strong source of visible light.

In summary, the assertion is false because visible light that allows us to see Earth from space primarily comes from reflected sunlight, not from Earth emitting visible-range radiation on its own.

We can see Earth from space because the Earth emits electromagnetic radiation in the wave spectrum that is visible to human eyes.

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