can we see the image of earth coming back to us after space travel

[asimations]

i am amazed by the possibilty that if the light reflected from earth comes back to us after travelling in space for thousands of years we will be able to see our past. And this could happen around black holes. Has any one found an image resembling earth?

[russ_watters]

It would be highly unlikely, requiring a very precise set of conditions if it is possible at all. Besides-which, we don't have telescopes with enough resolution to view an earth-sized object more than a few light years away. Most of what we see of gravitational lensing takes place in/around distant galaxies.

[Nabeshin]

Beyond the ridiculous conditions necessary and the resolving power, you also would have an incredibly low photon flux. So while you could receive photons, they would trickle in at a rate of something like a few per second. Hardly the 30fps movie I imagine you'd like to see.