5 ms·

That's not really true anymore. In the last few years adaptive optics has closed the gap. source: https://www.popularmechanics.com/space/a22240382/neptune-gro

• shadowgovt 7y ago
  And if Starlink inconveniences astronomy, it probably won't take but so many further years before adaptive signal correction algorithms close the gap again.
• avmich 7y ago
  1) Atmosphere blocks parts of the electromagnetic spectrum, so not all telescopes on Earth will be on the level field with space-based ones. 2) Earth-based telescopes have to withstand gravity of 1g, while in space you can have some bigger structures.