"Stinger" <contact@newsserveronly.com> wrote in message 
news:vdPzb.638$E7.352@bignews5.bellsouth.net:

There's a great scene in the movie "Contact" during the "wormhole" 

sequence

where the capsule stops very briefly above a planet orbiting Vega.  It 

shows

patterned lights on the dark side of the planet.  The dialogue:  "They're
alive...."  Whoosh!

Yeah.

I wonder how a volcano with lots of lava in the crater on the night 
side looks from a few 100 kms - is the glow of the lava visible at all?
 

-- Stinger

"Mr. 4X" <random.ay@hf.invalid.com> wrote in message
news:Xns9447E1992E621mr4x@195.228.240.20...

"Stinger" <contact@newsserveronly.com> wrote in message
news:Jdtzb.1645$MY2.383@bignews6.bellsouth.net:

Bingo.

Yes, they could be easier to notice then the radio transmissions. Even 

if

the visitors don't use city lights and haven't any yet: they could think
it's a weird volcanic phenomenon...

"Mr. 4X" <random.zhoan@dbbom.invalid.com> wrote in message
news:Xns9446E4D4A4373mr4x@195.228.240.20...

What about the city lights?