dmiessler.com | grep understanding - Latest Comments in “It can be seen from space.”

Re: “It can be seen from space.”

Maxo — Wed, 20 Feb 2008 09:13:57 -0000

The Great Wall thing is actually a myth. http://www.snopes.com/scien... The Great Wall cannot be seen from space because it has the same tones as the earth, making it camouflage.
I have seen this myth pushed out as fact in many educational books. Very sad.

Re: “It can be seen from space.”

Tim F. — Wed, 20 Feb 2008 08:41:32 -0000

Nice t-shirt idea, but it robs us all of a good "yo mama" joke.

Re: “It can be seen from space.”

Daniel Miessler — Tue, 19 Feb 2008 23:12:47 -0000

Well, yeah, and that was my final point -- the naked eye is the only real benchmark that makes any sense. The problem is that people are using it for more than that, which is why it no longer has any meaning.

Like this man-made island off Dubai for example, shown in the picture -- that most likely can NOT be seen from space. I'm just guessing there. Not unless you're maybe falling OUT of space and are heading toward that island off the coast of Dubai.

Re: “It can be seen from space.”

Tue, 19 Feb 2008 23:08:58 -0000

When I see this phrase I understand the intent is actually "it can be seen from space with the naked eye." As you said, it originated in the 60s, and the phrase still means what it originally meant - astronauts observing the planet through windows can see the object/structure/etc. The phrase is only ambiguous if you're ignorant of its origin.