Can we build a bigger Hubble?

[Varangian]

This has probably been discussed a billion times??? but I am interested in hearing peoples response. Funding aside, is it possible to build a massive Hubble? I think Hubble is 2.4 metres? Could we build a 5-6 metre (or larger) monster in order to have a good look at extra-solar planetary systems and other DSOs? Are there limitations to what we can do? How large could/would we need to go and what do you think we could see?

[TrevorW]

John read this

http://www.jwst.nasa.gov/

[wasyoungonce]

Bigger Hubble ......not needed these days...well not quite right there is the James WEB telescope...working in differing wavelengths that we cannot receive on earth.

Adaptive optics telescopes have become the new grail...where a sodium LASER is fired into the upper atmosphere and this is used as a reference collimation star and adaptive optics (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adaptive_optics)correct a 2ndry deformable mirror for atmospheric conditions. (http://www.cfht.hawaii.edu/Instruments/Imaging/AOB/local_tutorial.html)

This has made major improvements these days (http://www.eso.org/public/teles-instr/vlt.html) and giving outstanding imaging .....although ground based does have it's own drawbacks.

[Keltik]

One of my occasional astro-related daydreams has been the deployment of a large space telescope with a companion satellite that can be maneouvered in the scope's line of sight to produce a tiny occultation circle. This setup could then be positioned to occult the intense light from a star and possibly reveal more detail of its planetary systems. But perhaps there's some basic element of optics I am unaware of that makes the idea lame. So I'll shut up now. :)

[Varangian]

Thank you:)

[blindman]

Wow, amazing.
And "science" still wondering in the dark, not much further than 2000 years ago.