<p>Of course, if you compare two objects that are the same size but are at different distances, the nearby object will be easier to see. But when making astronomical observations, the amount of light we receive from the object and the apparent angle matter more than the distance alone.</p>

<p>For instance, the Andromeda galaxy is further away than Pluto, but it is easier to observe. This is because it emits more light than Pluto, and it is so very big that it takes up 3° in the sky, whereas Pluto appears as a single point when observed with a telescope (or a few blurry pixels, depending on the telescope). </p>

<p>The things we see that are 13 billion light years away are very bright galaxies. We are unable to see individual stars at that distance, let alone asteroids or comets. </p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-02-26T00:46:22.263Z
`+1` but the OP's question and especially the use of "few blurred tiny pixels" suggests to me that an answer should address more directly what is and is not meant by a space telescope "seeing" something. For example, there's no such thing as "blurred pixels" and stellar objects are never resolved by space telescope.
uhoh
CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-02-27T00:42:19.047Z
Ok so thanks, getting hold of it a bit better now, what we can see 13.7 billion light years away is a massive galaxy. I heard if you Had a sphere between the sun and earth, touching each then all the galaxies in the universe would fit inside it which is amazing.
John
CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-02-27T00:46:11.880Z
Big but far away Dougal was quality, father ted 
John
CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-02-25T16:10:56.550Z
2020-02-25T16:17:52.110Z
2020-02-25T16:17:52.110Z
usernumber
<p>I just watched a documentary last night that stated a new discovery was so far away in our solar system the Hubble could only show it as a few blurred pixels, Robert Fosbury narrated and it was called Hubble 15 years of discovery. Also noted the same thing about “ Farout “
 It is 120 AU from the sun, 1 AU being about 93 million miles, so if Hubbles mirror can only define it as few blurred tiny pixels how again do we see 13.7 billion light years ? </p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-02-25T20:58:12.927Z
Big, but far away Dougal.
ProfRob
CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-02-25T21:01:36.840Z
Does this answer your question? [Given this report, you can see why people may think the moon landings were fake?](https://astronomy.stackexchange.com/questions/35190/given-this-report-you-can-see-why-people-may-think-the-moon-landings-were-fake)
ProfRob
CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-02-25T23:51:37.617Z
@RobJeffries It looks to me an entirely different problem. With the development of the AI, and their usage in spam engines, this problem will likely worsen. I vote VtC as unclear.
peterh
CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-02-26T09:04:52.197Z
I guess this is the body you are talking about https://www.universetoday.com/140901/just-discovered-farout-the-farthest-object-ever-seen-in-the-solar-system/
usernumber
<observational-astronomy>
The goblin furthest
John
# The goblin furthest

(Asked by: username_0 on 2020-02-25)

I just watched a documentary last night that stated a new discovery was so far away in our solar system the Hubble could only show it as a few blurred pixels, Robert Fosbury narrated and it was called Hubble 15 years of discovery. Also noted the same thing about “ Farout “
It is 120 AU from the sun, 1 AU being about 93 million miles, so if Hubbles mirror can only define it as few blurred tiny pixels how again do we see 13.7 billion light years ?

**Tags:** observational-astronomy
> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: Big, but far away Dougal.  
> **username_1**: Does this answer your question? [Given this report, you can see why people may think the moon landings were fake?](https://astronomy.stackexchange.com/questions/35190/given-this-report-you-can-see-why-people-may-think-the-moon-landings-were-fake)  
> **username_2**: @RobJeffries It looks to me an entirely different problem. With the development of the AI, and their usage in spam engines, this problem will likely worsen. I vote VtC as unclear.  
> **username_3**: I guess this is the body you are talking about https://www.universetoday.com/140901/just-discovered-farout-the-farthest-object-ever-seen-in-the-solar-system/  

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## 1 answers

### Answer by username_3 on 2020-02-25. Score: 3

Of course, if you compare two objects that are the same size but are at different distances, the nearby object will be easier to see. But when making astronomical observations, the amount of light we receive from the object and the apparent angle matter more than the distance alone.

For instance, the Andromeda galaxy is further away than Pluto, but it is easier to observe. This is because it emits more light than Pluto, and it is so very big that it takes up 3° in the sky, whereas Pluto appears as a single point when observed with a telescope (or a few blurry pixels, depending on the telescope).

The things we see that are 13 billion light years away are very bright galaxies. We are unable to see individual stars at that distance, let alone asteroids or comets.

> **Comments:**
> **username_4**: `+1` but the OP's question and especially the use of "few blurred tiny pixels" suggests to me that an answer should address more directly what is and is not meant by a space telescope "seeing" something. For example, there's no such thing as "blurred pixels" and stellar objects are never resolved by space telescope.  
> **username_0**: Ok so thanks, getting hold of it a bit better now, what we can see 13.7 billion light years away is a massive galaxy. I heard if you Had a sphere between the sun and earth, touching each then all the galaxies in the universe would fit inside it which is amazing.  
> **username_0**: Big but far away Dougal was quality, father ted   

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