I remember reading/hearing that lots of equipment was left behind on the moon (landers, etc). Shouldn’t that stuff be visible from the earth with our powerful telescopes? If so, I would think that would put to rest all but the most fanatical of unbelievers.
russ404
This is essentially the same question as was posed in the thread Whiteys on the Moon?. The answers are basically:
First, there are no telescopes currently on the Earth or in low Earth orbit with sufficient resolution to resolve any of the equipment left behind.
Secondly, if there was such a telescope, then it would be operated by NASA and/or various academic organizations, not the general public, and anyone who doubts the word of those who have been there isn’t going to trust said organizations, either.
Thirdly, there is, in fact, a set of mirrors that was deliberately left on the Moon for purposes of range determination; anyone with an adequately collimated laser could observe the reflections from that reflector, and many groups have done just that, without convincing those skeptical of the Apollo missions.