Hey mate, I appreciate the passion — and fair enough, you’ve got a decent telescope. But I think we might be mixing theoretical capability with practical limitations.
Your telescope can see galaxies millions of light-years away — that’s true
only because those objects are massive, luminous, and observed in the darkness of space with little to no atmospheric interference.
But seeing something
here on Earth, even on a flat surface, is
totally different.
The distance between Portsea and northern Tasmania is roughly
240–270 km, depending on your line of sight. Even on a perfectly flat Earth, here’s what stops you:
- Atmospheric distortion – Heat, humidity, and pollution distort visibility the closer you get to the horizon.
- Humidity and haze – Even on “clear” days, the air density and particles obscure distant ground-level objects.
- Light pollution and contrast – Galaxies are viewed in pitch black space. Tasmania is not glowing brightly against a black backdrop.
Line of sight isn’t infinite. On Earth, visibility becomes
compressed as you approach the horizon — this is called
atmospheric perspective. That’s why even at sea level, massive cargo ships disappear hull-first, regardless of telescope power.
Size matters. You mentioned your telescope can see galaxies — yes, because they span
hundreds of thousands of light years and emit
their own light. But Tasmania is a landmass with no internal glow, low contrast against the sea, and atmospheric interference between you and it. Big difference.
So, the question isn’t whether your telescope can technically resolve distant objects — it’s whether
you can visually penetrate 240 km of thick air at sea level and pick out
non-illuminated terrain near ground level.
Even if the Earth were flat,
you still wouldn’t see Tasmania under those conditions. Not because it’s hidden behind a curve — but because
Earth’s atmosphere limits low-altitude visibility. That’s just optics.
I’m not pushing one model or another here — I just think it’s fair to weigh
practical reality against
theoretical expectations. No disrespect at all — just keeping it real.
Let’s keep thinking, not attacking.
