Flat or Globe Earth?

Originally posted by The Disciple… ↑

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.

Expand

But seeing something here on Earth, even on a flat surface, is totally different.

It really isn't.

You seem to have this utterly bizarre idea that the atmosphere somehow "limits visibility". Rest assured, you are a long way from the truth.

The top of a severe thunderstorm can be seen- with the naked eye- from 300 kilometres away by an observer standing on the ground. All through that whimsical "polluted atmosphere" you keep harping on about.

And yet you postulate that somehow we can't see a gigantic lump of rock more than 300 kilometres wide on a flat earth with a telescope.

Your hypothesis is ridiculous, directly contradicted by observations and deserves no further consideration.