• @nucleative
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    288 months ago

    Tl:dw Hubble is designed to look at objects really far away and isn’t calibrated for Earth or fast enough to track a single spot long enough for good exposure, so the earth would be blurry.

    • LazaroFilm
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      58 months ago

      Now, if we had the ability to focus at earth distance with proper stabilization, what would we see?

        • LazaroFilm
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          38 months ago

          Yes but to what degree of magnification? Would we see a city, a street, a car, a person…?

          • LazaroFilm
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            48 months ago

            I did some napkin math and came to about 3.5 miles of field of view of pointed at the earth.

            • @Cort
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              48 months ago

              Hubble is old enough that it only has a 1MP camera, so roughly 720p or 1280x720 pixels , so each pixel would represent about 15 feet if you’re generous. A back yard swimming pool would be like 4 pixels, 9 if your parents are rich.

              • LazaroFilm
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                18 months ago

                This is a much better way of looking at it! Thanks!

  • Flying Squid
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    58 months ago

    I’m glad Randall has taken up the mantle of the great Cecil Adams. Someone had to.

    • @Jackcooper
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      28 months ago

      But who will take the mantle of the terrible Scott Adams?

  • SanguinePar
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    8 months ago

    Oh cool, there’s an XKCD YouTube? Consider me subscribed!

    Because I just did.

  • kryllic
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    28 months ago

    I didn’t know there was a YouTube channel for this series, I really enjoyed the book so this is a pleasant surprise

  • @teamevil
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    18 months ago

    The CIA literally gave NASA two satellite telescopes that are very powerful but aimed at earth.

    • threelonmusketeersOP
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      8 months ago

      NASA haven’t launched them yet, have they? Last I heard they were sitting in storage.

      • @teamevil
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        18 months ago

        They were retired from CIA use and thus I figured in orbit, it I need to Google it.