I see your point, however, ground-based telescopes have one major disadvantage over telescopes in orbit, they have to look through the atmosphere. This is the beauty of orbiting telescopes, plus you can get away with more if your equipment is operating in a near zero gavity environment. Of course its more expensive to maintain, but the results cover it.
This means that there will be at least 2-3 yrs before we have an active optical telescope. Sure there's Spitzer but it can only see in the infrared spectrum. I think the hubble's time is up too, but I don't think it should be allowed reentry until we have another visible light telescope in place.
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I see your point, however, ground-based telescopes have one major disadvantage over telescopes in orbit, they have to look through the atmosphere. This is the beauty of orbiting telescopes, plus you can get away with more if your equipment is operating in a near zero gavity environment. Of course its more expensive to maintain, but the results cover it.
This means that there will be at least 2-3 yrs before we have an active optical telescope. Sure there's Spitzer but it can only see in the infrared spectrum. I think the hubble's time is up too, but I don't think it should be allowed reentry until we have another visible light telescope in place.
I agree, but it still makes me happy. I've been waiting along time to see this. I'll definately be buying them.