Eli5 why are you able to see lights far away but the light it projects doesn’t go nearly as far? (Car lights, street lights, etc)

Question

Eli5 why are you able to see lights far away but the light it projects doesn’t go nearly as far? (Car lights, street lights, etc)

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Answer 1

The lights it projects does go so far – that’s how you see the light in the first place. But for something to be illuminated, the light has to make it to the object, reflect, and make it all the way back to your eye. That’s a much more taxing journey on the intensity of the light than simply shining at you.