I recently found this reel on instagram that we have captured a little image/video of the sun.
Given how far the earth is to the moon, could it be possible for us to see the flag on the surface on the moon then if man actually landed on the moon?
In: 1074
So, the short answer is no. Even the most powerful optical telescopes cannot pick out that level of detail at that distance.
In 2011 NASA’s Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO) captured the sharpest images ever taken from space of the Apollo 12, 14 and 17 landing sites. You can see that detail here: [https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/LRO/news/apollo-sites.html](https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/LRO/news/apollo-sites.html)
But lets say, for the sake of discussion, that some fantastic new technology was invented which would allow you to take Google map resolution images of the moon surface. What would we see.
Well, according to Buzz Aldrin, the first flag was apparently knocked over by the landing craft engine blast when it took off. It has probably been covered by a layer of dust making it invisible to observers.
Later flags were planted further away from the landers but, after 40+ years of unfiltered solar uv radiation they have all been more or les bleached white. The only one that still has the stars and stripes visible is the original one which, as stated earlier, is under a layer of dust so not exposed.
Dource: [https://history.nasa.gov/alsj/ApolloFlags-Condition.html](https://history.nasa.gov/alsj/ApolloFlags-Condition.html)
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