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0ld_Wolf t1_jdxgp20 wrote

Something you had not factored in is the Earth's rotational speed.

I read once that the Hubble could potentially resolve something the size of a textbook on a desk...but the image would be blurred/smeared so badly by the Earth's rotational speed that it would not be recognizeable.

So basically, only large structures like continents, oceans, ice caps, and clouds would be recognizeable at any distance - no matter the potential power of a telescope.

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collegefurtrader t1_jdxpdcc wrote

There’s a whole constellation of US spy satellites in orbit that are very similar to hubble, and they track the earth just fine. Exposure times are much shorter too.

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0ld_Wolf t1_je0nh99 wrote

What Hubble is designed to do and what spy satellites are designed to do are completely different.

I am not saying that the technology to resolve a clear image on Earth does not exist - just that it is not included on space telescopes designed to look at distances measures in light years.

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