Could we use cherenkov atmosphere radiation (with gamma rays or similar) to image the surface of a planet from here with ground based telescopes?

Using Cherenkov radiation to image the surface of a planet from Earth with ground-based telescopes is not feasible for several reasons:

1. Cherenkov Radiation Mechanism: Cherenkov radiation is produced when charged particles, such as those from gamma-ray showers, travel faster than light in a medium like the Earth's atmosphere. This phenomenon is primarily used to detect high-energy particles and gamma rays, not to image distant objects like planets13.

2. Atmospheric Cherenkov Telescopes (IACTs): IACTs, like MAGIC, H.E.S.S., and VERITAS, are designed to detect TeV gamma-ray sources by observing the Cherenkov radiation produced in the atmosphere. They are not suited for imaging planetary surfaces because they focus on detecting high-energy particle showers rather than reflected light from planets25.

3. Optical Imaging Limitations: While IACTs can be used for optical observations of bright sources, their primary function is not to image distant objects with high resolution. They lack the angular resolution and sensitivity needed to resolve planetary surface features from Earth2.

4. Signal Attenuation and Interference: The signal from a planet's surface would be significantly attenuated by interstellar space and the Earth's atmosphere, making it impractical to detect and resolve surface details using Cherenkov radiation.

In summary, while Cherenkov radiation is a powerful tool for detecting high-energy phenomena, it is not suitable for imaging planetary surfaces from Earth with ground-based telescopes. Other astronomical techniques, such as direct optical or infrared imaging with specialized telescopes, are more appropriate for this purpose.