Eli5 how telescope works? How can you look at other planets and solar system but not new york from alasca?

Question

Eli5 how telescope works? How can you look at other planets and solar system but not new york from alasca?

In: Physics

Answer 1

Just to add to all this. IF the earth were flat you would also have a ton of thick atmosphere to look through. Where as looking up and out you only have a relatively small amount of atmosphere to look through. As is, the atmospheric distortion is something that needs to be dealt with on a professional level. Put up with on an amateur level.