Jakarta –
Did detikers know that the statement that the Great Wall of China can be seen from outer space is a myth? So, what exactly are buildings on Earth that can be seen from space?
Astronaut Chris Hadfield said the Great Wall of China cannot be seen from outer space with the naked eye, including from orbiting spacecraft. This is because one of the wonders of the world is too narrow in dimension and follows the natural contours and colors around it.
“The Great Wall of China is not visible from orbit to the naked eye. It’s too narrow plus it follows the contours, and the color is natural,” Hadfield said in his tweet at @cmdr_hadfield, quoted on Wednesday (22/2/2023).
It is known that the boundary between the Earth’s atmosphere and outer space is the Kármán line. The line, named after the physicist Theodore von Kármán, is simply defined as 100 km above the Earth’s surface. Live Science.
The following man-made structures can be seen from above the Kármán line:
1. Palm Jumeirah Dubai
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) reports that the artificial island Palm Jumeirah Dubai can be seen at a glance from the Kármán line.
Furthermore, if you look with an 800 mm lens, Palm Jumeirah can be seen from the international space station, namely the International Space Station (ISS). The ISS itself orbits at an average altitude of about 400 km above sea level.
2. The Three Gorges of China
The Three Gorges Dam spans the Yangtze River, China. NASA reports, this dam building is also visible from outer space.
The Three Gorges Dam is the largest electricity generation facility in the world. It is 185 meters high, with a length of just over 2 km.
3. Bingham Gorge Mine
The Bingham Canyon Mine is located near Salt Lake City, Utah, United States. The man-made mine site is the area with the deepest open pit in the world, according to the Universities Space Research Association.
The Bingham Gorge Mine is so large that it can be seen from the Kármán line as well as from NASA’s orbiting space shuttle at an altitude of 305-531 km) above sea level.
4. Pyramid of Giza Mesir
Astronauts disagree a little about whether or not the Great Pyramid of Giza is visible from space with the naked eye.
British astronaut Tim Peake says he can’t see one of the wonders of the world from space, but it can be seen relatively clearly through an 800mm lens.
However, former NASA astronaut and ISS commander Leroy Chiao said he saw pyramid while in orbit.
“There’s a lot to see from the ISS, even with the naked eye. For example, I once found a large pyramid with a telephoto, and I was able to pick out two large ones with the naked eye – as long as the lighting and weather conditions are good – as two small dots,” he concluded. .
Watch Video “Japan and US Historical Agreement on Space Exploration“
(tw/gas)
