Q: What man-made objects are visible in space?
Q: What man-made objects are visible in space?
A: There is a long-standing myth that the Great Wall of China is the only man-made object visible from space. It and several variations on the theme are great fodder for water cooler arguments. In reality, many human constructs can be seen from Earth orbit.
Shuttle astronauts can see highways, airports, dams and even large vehicles from an Earth orbit that is about 135 miles high. Cities are clearly distinct from surrounding countryside, and that’s true even from the higher perch of the International Space Station, which circles the planet at about 250 miles up.
Egyptian pyramids have been photographed from space several times with standard digital cameras and high-powered lenses. The largest pyramid at Giza, on the outskirts of Cairo, is 745 feet wide and 449 feet tall.
Source: Robert Roy Britt of www.space.com
