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threelonmusketeers@sh.itjust.works to xkcd@lemmy.worldEnglish · 3 years ago

What if we aimed the Hubble Telescope at Earth?

www.youtube.com

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What if we aimed the Hubble Telescope at Earth?

www.youtube.com

threelonmusketeers@sh.itjust.works to xkcd@lemmy.worldEnglish · 3 years ago
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Get a copy of What If? 2 and Randall’s other books at: https://xkcd.com/booksMore serious answers to absurd questions at: https://what-if.xkcd.com/If you poi...
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  • nucleative@lemmy.world
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    3 years 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@lemmy.world
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      3 years ago

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

      • ☂️-@lemmy.mlBanned
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        2 years ago

        Removed by mod

        • LazaroFilm@lemmy.world
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          3 years ago

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

          • LazaroFilm@lemmy.world
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            3 years ago

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

            • Cort@lemmy.world
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              3 years 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@lemmy.world
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                3 years ago

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

          • Jackhammer_Joe@lemmy.world
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            3 years ago

            Earth

      • WalrusDragonOnABike [they/them]@reddthat.com
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        3 years ago

        Apparently you spinning in a chair if you have a skylight over it

  • Flying Squid@lemmy.world
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    3 years ago

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

    • Jackcooper@lemmy.world
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      3 years ago

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

  • SanguinePar@lemmy.world
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    3 years ago

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

    Because I just did.

  • kryllic@programming.dev
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    3 years ago

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

  • PLAVAT🧿S@sh.itjust.works
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    3 years ago

    Somewhat tangentially related but DSCOVR sits at a Lagrange point between the Sun and Earth and took pretty neat photos:

    https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deep_Space_Climate_Observatory

    • threelonmusketeers@sh.itjust.worksOP
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      3 years ago

      Those time lapse animations are super cool!

      https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deep_Space_Climate_Observatory#Animations

    • AA5B@lemmy.world
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      3 years ago

      I had to read that, after an earlier thread today claimed Gore did nothing for the climate until after he lost his presidential bid …… that would have been great to post

  • beebarfbadger@lemmy.world
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    3 years ago

    What a comforting note to end on…

  • teamevil@lemmy.world
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    • threelonmusketeers@sh.itjust.worksOP
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      3 years ago

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

      • teamevil@lemmy.world
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        deleted by creator

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