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Would they be any use as ground-based telescopes?


Probably not. The design of telescopes face different environmental challenges between Earth-based and space. On Earth, we have the benefits of accessibility but the downside of peering through the atmosphere. In space, there's no atmosphere but you have to deal with inaccessibility, extreme cold, micrometeorites and space debris, and radiation.

Also take into consideration mirror size. On Earth, we have built (and are building) giant mirrors many meters across. In relation, the mirrors on Hubble and other space telescopes are rather small in comparison. Its really the lack of atmosphere that provides most of the advantage to space-based installations.


well that, and the CCDs love cold.




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