Why would aliens HAVE to visit Earth? Couldn't they study our planet from a far distance?

Question

What benefit could they possibly derive from physically visiting the planet? Couldn't they just as effectively study us from a far distance? Or, even send extremely small sized un-manned crafts instead of these relatively large UFO vehicles?

It just doesn't make sense to me.

BTW, just for the record: I, myself, have yet to see any convincing evidence indicating that UFOs exist, but I believe that its possible they exist.

Sorry, I guess I should have explained what I mean by "far". I just mean from a distance where they couldn't easily be detected by Humans. I mean, I would assume that they could even utilize some sort of stealth technology and remain just above the Earth and observe from there.

Answer 1

A better question is why would they want to visit or observe Earth. To such an advanced race, why would we be of any interest?

But you have a good point. Believers in UFOs are saying that aliens come here with very advanced technology, just not advanced enough to avoid detection. Not very likely.

Answer 2

Of cours UFOs exist. Lots of flying objects go unidentified. That any of these objects were alien vehicles seems terribly unlikely.

As far as study gos, we have gotten very creative at deducing information taken from a distance. Presumably a more advanced race would as well. But the closer you can get, the more you can learn. The only reason to keep a distance is to avoid affecting the object being studied.

Answer 3

that's actually psychology, because humans cant just see thing from distance, we have to go there. That's the reason of flight, space exploration, i mean we could just watch the moon, but human beings want to go there. If tomorrow an alien probe is spotted it would be not as spectacular as seeing a tripulated UFO.
Besides is not wise to get close people you are going to spy on, because they will know somebody is out there, altering the info.
that's why i think UFOs don really exist because abducting people, an flying over cities is not an smart way of remain unnoticed.

Answer 4

They don't have to visit Earth to get an idea of human life. I am certain that having the technology to get here would also mean that they could access the satellite systems that are in place and could do this from afar. This would be like trying to understand human's by watching TV though.
By actually visiting earth's inhabitants they could gain a more intimate knowledge of us and life as we know it.

Answer 5

Studying from a distance would be studying our past not our present, just as we see Alpha Centauri as it is 4.4 years ago because it is 4.4 lightyears away. For aliens to practically visit our planet they would have to travel faster than the speed of light, and since they would be able to do this, they would be able to study our present, and not our past.

Answer 6

they might be able to study, but what if they want to manipulate the outcome of things here on earth? what if they already have interceded in the past? what if...we are their favorite science experiment?

Answer 7

light from another planet is pretty dim. They have to get pretty close to see any detail. If you get that close , why not just visit. 'Course they could be paranoids LOL (Xenophobes wouldn't care about us)

Answer 8

The aliens are here collega.They whisper around and we steal words from them.

Answer 9

How can you just randomly come to the conclusion that they're spying on us?

Answer 10

can you study a book away from you?let's say 50 meters.