China's Great Wall spotted in space.

[Quest]

http://www.newscientist.com/channel/space/mg18624964.100

Looks like it CAN be seen from space after all.

[in_lab]

Unfortunately there is no picture. "The great wall can be seen from space" is an ambiguous sentence. At low altitudes, a lot of man-made structures can be seen, so there is no distinction to the great wall being visible. The great wall would be special only if it were the only man-made structure visible at that altitude.

[liuzhou]

Despite the fact that New Scientist picked up the story from that great bastion of truth accuracy and objectivity, China Daily, I remain sceptical.

Let's face it, most of the Great Wall isn't visible from earth, never mind space! Apart from a few parts in strategic tourist areas (many of which were built very recently!), much of it is a crumbling wreck. The idea of a contuinuous line sweeping across north China is a myth. Always has been. The wall was never finished.

What does remain is a grey wall on a grey background. The Dutch astronaut (can't be too many of them) quoted gets that point, but then says it is "wide and long". No, it isn't.

Here is the picture on which the claim is based. Seems you can see town names from space too!

[in_lab]

So how was this picture taken? If the claim is, "the great wall can be seen using satellite imaging?" I don't think that will rouse the national pride.

[iMm0rTaLBoi]

It wasnt taken using satellite imaging. In fact, it was taken by a Chinese-American astronaut. Unfortunately, what takes away the pride of the great wall is that other things, such as Egypt's great pyramids, can be seen from space too.