• @nucleative
    link
    English
    2810 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
      link
      English
      510 months ago

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

        • LazaroFilm
          link
          English
          310 months ago

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

          • LazaroFilm
            link
            English
            410 months ago

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

            • @Cort
              link
              English
              410 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
                link
                English
                110 months ago

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

  • Flying Squid
    link
    English
    510 months ago

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

    • @Jackcooper
      link
      English
      210 months ago

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

  • SanguinePar
    link
    English
    4
    edit-2
    10 months ago

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

    Because I just did.

  • kryllic
    link
    fedilink
    English
    210 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

  • @beebarfbadger
    link
    English
    110 months ago

    What a comforting note to end on…

  • @teamevil
    link
    English
    110 months ago

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

    • threelonmusketeersOP
      link
      fedilink
      English
      2
      edit-2
      10 months ago

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

      • @teamevil
        link
        English
        110 months ago

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