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A comment on Mysterious aircraft spotted at Area 51 in satellite image. Parent comment

Re:Mysterious aircraft spotted at Area 51 in satellite image by formerly_proven on Friday February 04, 2022 @04:45AM (#30204735)
Geostationary orbit is ~36000 km above the surface. Optical surveillance satellites work at altitudes of 200-400 km and already need Hubble-like mirror sizes to achieve the needed resolution. A geostationary satellite with a similar resolution is simply not possible to build and launch in this age. Geostationary also means that half the time you're looking at darkness.
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Re:Mysterious aircraft spotted at Area 51 in satellite image by krisoft on Friday February 04, 2022 @07:28AM (#30205924)
Thank you very much for the answer. (both you and all the other people)

> A geostationary satellite with a similar resolution is simply not possible to build and launch in this age.

I think I will have to read up on that specifically more. I was aware how far GEO is, but I don't understand what makes the optics impossible. (Clearly it is as you say, all the sources agree with you.) Thank you!

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