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Why Can’t the Hubble Space Telescope Take High Resolution Pictures of Mars?

-- | March 30, 2017

Question: Hi, I want to ask that what is the difference between hubble space telescope and general telescope, why the hubble can’t look on mars in-depth while it looks in light year object? — Ahsan

Answer: In fact, the Hubble Space Telescope (HST) can take very nice close-up pictures of Mars. One very nice photo of Mars was published in 2008 and also in 2016. At its highest resolution, HST can make out objects that are about 8 km in size.

Jeff Mangum

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