SUMMARY
If the Hubble Space Telescope were positioned in orbit around Pluto and aimed at Earth, it would capture a view characterized by the planet's blues, greens, browns, and whites, similar to existing space photographs. The resolution would allow for the identification of large landmasses, such as Australia, but finer details like Tasmania would be indistinguishable. The Earth’s diameter is over five times that of Pluto, resulting in a view where Earth's features would appear significantly smaller, roughly 9 pixels across at that distance. This scenario parallels the famous "Pale Blue Dot" photograph taken by Voyager 1, illustrating Earth's appearance from afar.
PREREQUISITES
- Understanding of Hubble Space Telescope capabilities
- Familiarity with planetary diameters and scales
- Knowledge of image resolution and pixel density
- Awareness of historical space photography, including Voyager 1's "Pale Blue Dot"
NEXT STEPS
- Research Hubble Space Telescope specifications and imaging capabilities
- Explore the significance of the "Pale Blue Dot" photograph and its impact on astronomy
- Study the differences in resolution between Hubble and other space telescopes
- Investigate the effects of distance on image clarity and detail in astronomical observations
USEFUL FOR
Astronomy enthusiasts, astrophysicists, educators in space science, and anyone interested in the visual representation of Earth from space.