Satellite Imagery

[Lodesman]

Originally Posted by delmarrey

"A bit old, I would say.

So? It's for reference and the information isn't subject to decay. If you remember the previous thread, we acknowledged that the best known satellite imagery resolution was stated as 0.41m (or 41 cm). The license plate is only legible at 0.001m (0.1cm) resolution. I'll leave it to you whether you believe the military has secretly got satellites with 400 times better magnitude of resolution over what is commercially available. Anyway, I thought it was informative.

Kevin

[hellosailor]

Even in the 70's it was known that the military satellites then in orbit would be capable of sub-meter resolution, simply from the dimensions of the optics and the other unclassified data. The problem then--and presumably now--is that the atmosphere is constantly "boiling" and distorting the image with "mirage" type effects.

Exactly the same problem you'd have trying to take sextant observations near shore or when fronts were passing through, or trying to use binoculars in a hot desert. It doesn't matter what the optical resoltuion is--you just can't see through the distortions from the churning air.

But even in the 70's the military were trying to deal with that issue by using laser, radar, and other tools in an effort to actually measure and remove the atmospheric distortions. Something akin to the way that doppler weather radar "sees" wind patterns that we can't see, they were looking for ways to quantify and then remove the effects of atmospheric distortions.

Sub-meter resolution, good enough to see the stripes in a parking lot (6" wide?) was possible 30+ years ago. Of course these days, they can also just send a drone up to take low-altitude photos.[g]

Either way...there are some good toys out/up there, but probably the only folks who are willing to admit they own any of them are NASA.

[Rascus]

Originally Posted by delmarrey

"Updated Tuesday, December 30, 1997 10:19:25 AM "


A bit old, I would say.

Plus it's from FAS

[Lodesman]

Originally Posted by Rascus

Plus it's from FAS

Meaning......?

[Rascus]

Meaning, i don't agree with FAS. The information that is leaked to them and then they post to an openly public domain should not be allowed. Posting classified information because "folks need to know" is bunch of BS. There's a reason things are classified. Taking that information and posting it online for all to see, in my eyes is a form of treason against the United States.

[hellosailor]

Rascus, what makes you say that FAS is leaking classified information that was given to them?

Lots of information that is classified, can be deduced or determined by other perfectly legal means. There's a huge civilian market in satellite imaging, those folks are familiar with information that other civilians would PRESUME was classified--but it is common knowledge in the right quarters.

The military had the entire SR71 Blackbird project "classified" for about 20 years after Revell started selling the plastic model kit for the plane. Doesn't mean Revell stole the information, or that it was leaked to them.

[georgelewisray]

Last year on google earth I was poking around on the east coast of Africa. Off the coast a good ways was a small island, really a big sand bar and there were two small boats, primitive fishing boats a little more than dugouts. you could make our the oars and line laying in the boats. I have looked for it since, in fact just now and have not found it or anything approaching that resolution, but is was 'eye opening'!

[Rascus]

Originally Posted by hellosailor

Rascus, what makes you say that FAS is leaking classified information that was given to them?

Lots of information that is classified, can be deduced or determined by other perfectly legal means. There's a huge civilian market in satellite imaging, those folks are familiar with information that other civilians would PRESUME was classified--but it is common knowledge in the right quarters.

The military had the entire SR71 Blackbird project "classified" for about 20 years after Revell started selling the plastic model kit for the plane. Doesn't mean Revell stole the information, or that it was leaked to them.

Someone is giving them information that they are posting on the web. That's the issue I have. I have seen it several times.

Can you give me an example of how you can determine classified info by going through legal means?

[Ex-Calif]

Throw a toothpick in your swimming pool. Climb up on the second story roof with a pair of binoculars. Locate the toothpick within your lifetime.

Let us know how it works out.

The Steve Fossett post is fundamental. They did get satellite images and posted them on the web. They invited the public to scour each image for targets. They still haven't located Steve and we are pretty sure he is on dry land and pretty sure about where he was headed. It's like a 50 mile radius that is in question.

I wish that the system could do as requested but the reality is not the same as the movies.

[Viking Sailor]

They say a picture is worth a thousand words - here is a picture of the ground track of the Jason-1 satellite. This picture shows three track during six hour period. These ground tracks are very similar to that of recon satellites. The width of the track is determined by the height of the satellite and in this case just covers the island of Hawaii. So, regardless of optical resolution, the low satellite ground coverage, cloud cover, and a moving target make the odds of spotting a 53' sailboat in North Pacific very low.

[dkall]

Originally Posted by senormechanico

Regarding AAA, it's a SUBSCRIPTION SERVICE not a taxpayer mandate.

If you have to call police because someone broke into your house in the middle of the night, it's almost never your fault, but if you sail away and have to "Call 911" with your EPIRB, it's YOUR fault for getting into trouble whatever the cause.

Where's the "grey"?

Steve B.

How about; you choose to build your house or move into a crime prone area !

Most everything is about choice. You didn't choose your parents or relatives but as an adult you've choosen everything else, where to live, where to work, who to marry, what to drive. IMHO there is the grey.

Fair Winds

[Alan Wheeler]

This has grown totaly away from the topic of boating and will now be closed