Nasa missions to the Moon 1963-1972
moon buggies
reflective mirror
observing the Moon's surface from Earth
2006-09-11 08:54:04 · 11 answers · asked by lucky-dog 1 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Astronomy & Space
No. The resolving power of even the most powerful telescopes can't even begin to resolve any of the Apollo remnants.
I calculated a while back that the Hubble telescope would have the best chance, but it's resolving power would see nothing smaller than about 40 meters in diameter on the moon. Considering that the largest piece of equipment left behind, the bottom portion of the LEM, is only about 4 meters in diameter . . .
It would be like trying to see a flea on a water tower with a pair of opera glasses from 100 miles away . . .
2006-09-11 09:50:50 · answer #1 · answered by Dave_Stark 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Except for the reflective mirrors, no. And even with the reflective mirrors, you need a big telescope, powerful laser, and sensitive electronic detector, you can't just look with your eye.
The size of the smallest thing that can be seen with any telescope is related to the diameter of the main mirror and the wavelength of light. The fact that light is a wave limits how much small detail can be seen, even in theory. For visible light wavelengths, the Hubble Space Telescope's 94 inch mirror can see things no smaller than 300 feet wide on the Moon. A 10 times bigger mirror, 940 inches (78+ feet) wide could see objects 10 times smaller, or 30 foot objects, but no telescope that large has ever been made. Anyway, 30 feet is still too large, you would need a telescope hundreds of feet wide, maybe thousands, to get a decent picture.
2006-09-11 18:37:17 · answer #2 · answered by campbelp2002 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No optical telescope in existance has enough resolving power to see those things. However, we have bounced laser beams off the mirrors the astronauts left there - that's how we know that the Moon is getting about 4 cm farther from Earth each year.
2006-09-11 17:18:04 · answer #3 · answered by kris 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I have a related question(very good question BTW)....are the
astronauts' footprints and the dune buggy tracks still on the surface as well? Another one: How much space debris from all the NASA and USSR missions are still orbiting earth. DO some old space object periodically enter earth's atmosphere over years? Do most burn upon impact? Finally, is it true that a russian cosmonaut was marooned in the late 60's from a lunar
walk, and is still orbiting space with his body still perfectly preserved due to no oxygen to initiate decomposition?
And the ultimate question...Have I been smoking too much grass
lately? LOL
2006-09-11 16:11:56 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
It would have to be a powerful telescope, probably too expensive and/or large to be worth just observing the moon's surface
2006-09-11 16:00:49 · answer #5 · answered by ReelGenius 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Only when the moon is at the right phase and only with a very large scope. Even then, you're only likely to see a flash of light reflected from the object. Most commercialy produced scopes are not large enough for this.
2006-09-11 16:04:15 · answer #6 · answered by S.A.M. Gunner 7212 6 · 0⤊ 2⤋
I believe it would take a really powerful one to see those items. But yes I think it could be possible given the moon being in the right position to see them.
2006-09-11 15:57:42 · answer #7 · answered by ezachowski 6 · 0⤊ 2⤋
All that stuff is in a secret studio at the Grooms Lake AFB.
2006-09-11 16:02:53 · answer #8 · answered by der_grosse_e 6 · 1⤊ 1⤋
No. All that stuff is too small... The hubble couldn't even resolve that small.
2006-09-11 15:58:08 · answer #9 · answered by words_smith_4u 6 · 2⤊ 1⤋
no
its just way too small it would be like us looking at atoms through a microscope.
2006-09-11 15:56:25 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 1⤋