How Big Of A Scope To See...

[Mr Q]

...the lunar landers and rovers on the Moon's surface from Earth's surface under perfect seeing/transparency conditions?

I'll see if anyone can come up with a close answer before posting the scientific details. Here's a hint: the mirror would be a lot bigger than the Hubble's 2.4m mirror! Your guesses to the size in meters are fine.

Mr Q

[Kaptain K]

1,000m!

[Grashtel]

Depends on how much detail you want to see. Neglecting atmospheric effects to just barely make out the LM descent stages you would need a primary diameter of about 200m, to see foot prints you would need to see something over 2000m.

[Kaptain K]

Hey! I was just guessing, but it looks like I split the difference! :dance:

[Mr Q]

Good guesses but too high. The answer is the minimum needed to just detect the objects as tiny dots. I'll wait a bit longer to see who comes up with the closest answer.

Mr Q

[Mr Q]

Well, since no more guesses have been made, the answer is 100m and that's just to make out the vechiles as tiny dots. Good guesses anyways.

Mr Q