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More to the point, planets are next to stars. So it's more like detecting a single grain of sand on Mars that happens to be sitting next to a high-beam headligh

More to the point, planets are next to stars. So it's more like detecting a single grain of sand on Mars that happens to be sitting next to a high-beam headlight - even if you had a telescope powerful enough to resolve it, it's tough to separate it from its host star.

laumars 6y ago
While that does make it difficult, it’s also what makes it possible to see a planet from such a far distance.
- gbrown 6y ago
  “See”
  - laumars 6y ago
    I wasn’t suggesting you can observe them with your naked eye and, in fact, one of the definitions of ‘see’ describes deducing from information. So sarcasm quotes are not necessary.