Wouldn't it be possible to build a giant optical/infrared interferometer in space with resolution unlike anything ever seen before? Could we build one that orbited at the L4, L5 Lagrange points? Or maybe even 10 AU apart? Why not? If that's too big for it to work right, why not one just 1km across?
Mike1942f
Favorite Answer
They thought about it - cost too much http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Space_Interferometry_Mission
Anonymous
I'm sure that's something astronomers would love to do. From what little I know about it, I think the problem is basically just that it is technically extremely difficult to make such a large scale optical interferometer work. It is apparently a very tricky business. Though like I said if it is made workable I'm sure you'll see plans for something like that.
?
Why not? Because we can not.
We do not have the will, resources or energy to design, fabricate and loft such a thing into space.
You do realise we would not be able to focus on planets because they move?