APOD: Home from Above (2010 Nov 15)

[GordonMcD]

From 350 Km up, the curvature we are seeing must be being enhanced by the camera lens, is it not? The same effect can be seen in the amateur-balloon-to-space videos on Youtube.

[Amien]

It's France! I can see the Eiffel Tower!

[Benibouftou]

O.K.
I think that, all of us, have seen , in this picture , every parts of The Earth , from East to West and from South to North ... Nobody thought that just could be Xmas Father searching for a dropping zone before Thanksgiving ? . Don't you thought ?
Cheers for all of you .

[JohnD]

In fact, not all the earth has been picked!
Sad man that I am, I've just taken a poll of the places chosen. I only listed the first place mentioned, and some were rather wide, like 'Pacific Ocean, Califonia, Mexico'. "Pacific Ocean" is bit big, all by itself.

Seas & Oceans
Pacific Ocean: 17
Atlantic Ocean: 8
Indian Ocean:4
Gulf of Mexico:12
San Francisco Bay: 2
Others, one each: Phillipine Sea, Bering Sea, Red Sea, Coral Sea.

Lands & Countries
Himalayas: 2
Mexico: 4
Central America: 2
India: 2
Italy, N.Canada, Florida, Hellespont (more land than sea), New Zealand, Texas, Cornwall, Pyranees: 1 each.

So, if anyone would like to choose their own area because they recognise it or out of pure chauvenism, you can choose from all of Europe, except France, Spain and Italy, the whole of Africa, Australia, China and South America, and Russia from St.Petersburg to the Sea of Okhotsk. Antarctica anf the Arctic Sea are choice free at present too.

So get picking in this stupendous lottery!

John

[Chris Peterson]

So, if anyone would like to choose their own area because they recognise it or out of pure chauvenism, you can choose from all of Europe, except France, Spain and Italy, the whole of Africa, Australia, China and South America, and Russia from St.Petersburg to the Sea of Okhotsk. Antarctica anf the Arctic Sea are choice free at present too.

The highest latitude that would be just visible on the horizon from the ISS is 70°. So basically, you can exclude all arctic and antarctic regions from consideration.

[JohnD]

That narrows it down a bit!
John

[getdam]

@Getdam: I'd guess that red spot you can see is a star, not a balloon.

Hello Flatpackhamster! the object i am referring to is not a star. It is almost straight down and probably
only 1 to 5 miles above a cloudy area. It is not in the blackness of space nor near the harizon.

[getdam]

@Getdam: I'd guess that red spot you can see is a star, not a balloon.

Sorry! Sorry! I sent every looking out the wrong window for what appears to be a balloon.
it is actually the lower part of the left window. Sorry! Again.

[getdam]

I am still trying to convince myself that the balloon type object just above the clouds in the
top left viewport has some significance with the location. WHERE or WHY are such things launched from.
Scientific outpost--weather study or forcast--AREA 51--launch sites--etc.
I do not know if they are launched near observatories or not but i am guessing they are over the Hawian islands.

[apeguero]

Where ever they may be they certainly don't have time to clean their lenses That is one dirty picture.

[Chris Peterson]

I am still trying to convince myself that the balloon type object just above the clouds in the
top left viewport has some significance with the location. WHERE or WHY are such things launched from.

It's not a balloon. It's just a reflection on the glass from inside, or maybe a smudge. Nothing outside at all.

[BMAONE23]

@Getdam: I'd guess that red spot you can see is a star, not a balloon.

Sorry! Sorry! I sent every looking out the wrong window for what appears to be a balloon.
it is actually the lower part of the left window. Sorry! Again.

I say it is a fly on the outside of the window. Them pesky things are always messing up NASA's fakeed pictures

[x00x]

Wow. An iconic image for the images. If I had to choose just one picture that captures all that APOD yearns to convey about the wonders of the Universe, this has to be it, retitling it Rodin's Thinker Meets Thus Spoke Zarathustra.

[Star*Hopper]

SO, when do we get to see the answer??

~B[

[Chris Peterson]

SO, when do we get to see the answer??

I doubt it can be determined by looking at the picture. Unless the astronaut who took it noted the ISS location, the only way to figure it out is to hope the image timestamp is accurate, and then propagate the ISS orbit to figure out where it was at the time.

[neufer]

SO, when do we get to see the answer??

I doubt it can be determined by looking at the picture.

This must rank among the silliest of Q & A Asterisk threads.

Click to play embedded YouTube video.

<<Max Q is a Houston-based rock band whose members are all NASA astronauts. It was formed in early 1987 by Robert L. Gibson, George Nelson and Brewster Shaw. Gibson named the band after "max Q," the engineering term for the maximum dynamic pressure from the atmosphere experienced by an ascending spacecraft. He joked that like the Space Shuttle, the band "makes lots of noise but no music."

The band's rotating line-up often changes due to flight crew assignments, training, and the occasional retirement. Current members include:

* Ricky Arnold – rhythm guitar
* Dan Burbank – lead vocals and guitar
* Tracy "TC" Caldwell Dyson – lead vocals
* Ken "Taco" Cockrell – keyboards and background vocals
* Chris Ferguson – drums
* Drew Feustel – lead vocals and lead guitar
* Kevin A. Ford – drums
* Chris Hadfield – lead vocals and bass guitar
* Greg "Box" Johnson – keyboards and background vocals
* Dottie Metcalf-Lindenburger – lead vocals
* Steve "Stevie Ray" Robinson – lead guitar>>

[Star*Hopper]

SO, when do we get to see the answer??

I doubt it can be determined by looking at the picture.

This must rank among the silliest of Q & A Asterisk threads.

~~~~~~~~~~~
If it needs reminding, Neuf & Chris, my question comes from the prompt footer posted below the APOD that day - to wit, "Challenge: Can you identify which part of Earth is visible in the background? "

So now, we've had plenty of participation....it's about time (past it actually) when the Challenge Author gave the "Big Reveal" and demonstrate his cleverness with how the answer is discerned. I mean, what's the intent of issuing a 'Challenge' if it's only to remain an infinite mystery? If we're to cooperate by playing these things, why can't he by doing his part & following up?

Clear'ns!
~S*H

[Chris Peterson]

If it needs reminding, Neuf & Chris, my question comes from the prompt footer posted below the APOD that day - to wit, "Challenge: Can you identify which part of Earth is visible in the background? "

So now, we've had plenty of participation....it's about time (past it actually) when the Challenge Author gave the "Big Reveal" and demonstrate his cleverness with how the answer is discerned. I mean, what's the intent of issuing a 'Challenge' if it's only to remain an infinite mystery? If we're to cooperate by playing these things, why can't he by doing his part & following up?

There is a long history on APODs of challenging discussion about issues for which there is no answer known. The idea is that somebody might be able to come up with an answer... but I don't think that has happened here. The APOD author can chime in, but my guess is that he doesn't know what part of the Earth is seen, either.

[Star*Hopper]

Aah....I see. And I agree with it not being one of the ones where an unknown answer's being sought, but rather, a prima facie 'quiz' question. WELL then - perhaps next time I'll just answer, "Yes I can, neener neener!" & be done with it rather than wasting my precious remaining time on this blue marble following a silly taunt without end, after realizing the author's just a Troll.

~S*H

[JohnD]

Click to view full size image

Just thought I'd show you what I meant. Cupola picture with superimposed map of Europe; South-west France and North-east Spain, with the Pyranees along the border. Cloud over the Balerics.

John

PS can't get the picture to download to this post. Advice, please? J.

PPS Oh! It does load! Blurry, but shows what I mean if you compare. J.

[Chris Skinner]

I think it is the island of Madagascar.

[Beyond]

That's the view from THAT window, but the Astronaut is looking out another window. She may just be looking at the good ole' U.S.A. Don't-cha-think?

[Patrick1264msn]

Hopefully we get the answer before this goes fisticuffs!

[Ozwald_Copperpot]

What is she resting herself on? There's a flesh-coloured 'arm' underneath her, and it looks like it's wearing a watch. Is this a romantic moment on the space station?

Or does she have three arms?

[owlice]

What is she resting herself on?

This:

That cropped from here and brightened: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Cupol ... e_crop.jpg