Airplanes on satellite pictures

Map at google: google maps [last visited: 2008-03-06]

A total of four airplanes at one airport could be seen near Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport. Here is the first one in shiny silver.

And here is the current image within google right now:

Map at google: google maps [last visited: 2008-03-04]

One single picture as appendix to the recent article: I think this is a viewy picture with the shadow of an airplane.

And here is the current image within google right now:

Map at google: google maps [last visited: 2008-03-04]

This is a really nice one. I found it close to Frankfurt am Main International Airport. You could might think that you see three airplanes and their three shadows very clear. What looks like a flight in formation at first is actually a demonstration, how accurate Google matches together several pictures of the same area.

But first things first. It makes a great visual impact how close you can zoom-in to the plane. It is not only possible to read the companys name “Lufthansa”, the letters are pin sharp.

But how was this image developed? It seems that Google connected three images made from one satellite in a time period of only a few seconds. There are at least two details: the shadows on the plane and the situation on the motorway. In fact there is a third detail: the picture of the three planes so close to another. I think if this had been a real situation, someone has published it …

The shadow on the plane: When you look at the rear airfoil (hope this is the right descriptonfor that), you can imagine that the plane made a small turn while the pictures were taken.

The situation on the motorway: You can see at least the same four vehicles twice (should be three times, but maybe someone can describe this behaviour). And it is visible that the vehicles have run a distance during the period of photography.

And here is the current image within google right now:

Fascinated by the maps in google I browsed through the area of my formerly hometown Stuttgart, maybe better known as Benztown. While doing this, I navigated to the airport at Leinfelden-Echterdingen and searched, if it is possible to see a plane at flight. And, first look first strike, I found a very nice shot of a plane starting in the direction of Ostfildern. From then I search after planes in google maps from time to time and would like to present the finds here.

Map at google: google maps [last visited: 2008-03-03]

And here is the current image within google right now: