Fun with Google Maps

[ZmanCartFan]

So I was just wasting some time at work, um, I mean, I was just doing some research at work using Google Maps, and I thought it might be fun to see how many unique places could be found where Champ Car has "left a mark" forever recorded in satellite imagery. For example, there's this:

http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&ie=UTF8&z=19&ll=41.516043,-81.683245&spn=0.001452,0.003374&t=h&om=1

I count 18 skid marks coming out of the pits. Assuming these are all from Champ Car, I'm placing the image in 2004.

Anybody else found any physical evidence that can be directly attributed to Champ Car other than just aerial views of tracks?

By the way, I can see the track outside of my office window. The black rubber marks around the corners are visible throughout the year.

[jarrambide]

http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&ie=UTF8&z=19&ll=41.516043,-81.683245&spn=0.001452,0.003374&t=h&om=1

You can see tire marks on the right and on the left, taking into ocnsideration that the track was built for CC and that CC ran 6 times there and A1GP only once, chances are this is all CC

[Sleeper]

Whoops, quote was deleted before I posted this.

[JAC]

Havent found anymore evidence of Champcars presence but I have been
passing the hours in this long off -season by searching for the Champcar
team bases on Google Earth this week.. anyone have any info on that?

[DrDomm]

Try this one...

http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&q=shoreline+drive,+long+beach,+ca&ie=UTF8&z=18&ll=33.763023,-118.186455&spn=0.002453,0.005879&t=k&om=1

[Skid Marx]

Here's Dale Coyne Racing, just south of Chicago in Plainfield, IL. When you head south out of Chicago on I-55, you can see it just off the highway on the east side of the road.

http://www.google.com/maps?f=l&hl=en&q=Dale+Coyne+Racing&near=Chicago,+IL&sll=37.0625,-95.677068&sspn=45.063105,67.763672&ie=UTF8&latlng=41639571,-88154744,10253684827660882599&ei=XHJ3ReTZNITgqwLj96XLBg

[Skid Marx]

http://www.google.com/maps?hl=en&q=rusport+racing&near=Loveland,+CO&ie=UTF8&latlng=40439292,-104976046,6526539236979247444&ei=1HR3RfSHFJfwqwKPp93MBg

Rusport HQ in Loveland, CO (large building on north side of street, 2 transporters in front parking lot)

[McLeagle]

Hi Skid, your Rusport link didn't work: I fixed it:

clicky here (http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&q=loveland,+co&ie=UTF8&om=0&z=18&ll=40.439643,-104.976103&spn=0.002094,0.005407&t=k)

Some scenes from the Denver track:

more clicky (http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&q=loveland,+co&ie=UTF8&z=19&ll=39.747522,-105.009757&spn=0.001058,0.002704&t=k&om=0)

more clicky (http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&q=loveland,+co&ie=UTF8&om=0&z=19&ll=39.749819,-105.006554&spn=0.001058,0.002704&t=k)

more clicky (http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&q=loveland,+co&ie=UTF8&om=0&z=19&ll=39.745214,-105.013209&spn=0.001058,0.002704&t=k)

And one more click (http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=360019) for the whole Denver track.

Edit - Denver on Yahoo Satellite:
link (http://maps.yahoo.com/beta/index.php#q1=ord&trf=0&mvt=s&lon=-105.010768&lat=39.746576&mag=1); click little arrow on left of image to go full-screen

[McLeagle]

One more; comparison of Long Beach on Google and Yahoo; on Yahoo you can see some barriers going up getting ready for the race:

Google (http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&q=long+beach,+ca&ie=UTF8&z=18&ll=33.764624,-118.184829&spn=0.002288,0.005407&t=k&om=0)

Yahoo (http://maps.yahoo.com/beta/index.php#q1=ord&trf=0&mvt=s&lon=-118.184534&lat=33.764249&mag=1)

[JAC]

a spinner in Cleveland

http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&q=cleveland&ie=UTF8&z=18&ll=41.518238,-81.683028&spn=0.002117,0.005413&t=k&om=1

[BobGarage]

pit boxes, tyre marks and curbing at belle isle.

since the irrelevant racing league haven't raced their just yet it must be our marks.

http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&q=detroit+belle+isle&ie=UTF8&z=19&ll=42.337105,-82.997466&spn=0.00071,0.002368&t=k&om=1

[jimispeed]

It's a little blurry, but here is Mont Tremblant.....

http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&q=mont+tremblant&ie=UTF8&t=h&om=1&z=14&ll=46.187377,-74.606352&spn=0.019074,0.06609&iwloc=addr

[Jonesi]

Havent found anymore evidence of Champcars presence but I have been passing the hours in this long off -season by searching for the Champcar
team bases on Google Earth this week.. anyone have any info on that?

Don't take that as evidence of recent presence, some of those photos are years old. Since I got DSL a couple of months ago I've been using Google earth a lot for Car Rallye prechecking and GeoCaching. I found a few cases where they showed a dirt field and I know the shopping center now there has been open for years.

[DrDomm]

We are all freaks...in withdrawal.

[champcarray]

This thread gave me a grin -- thanks to all for finding these! I especially enjoyed the "spin-marks" at Cleveland!

[BobGarage]

pit boxes at surfers: http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&q=Surfers+Paradise+QLD,+Australia&ie=UTF8&sll=-28.694804,153.638306&sspn=0.111128,0.303154&z=18&ll=-27.986486,153.428208&spn=0.003648,0.008926&t=k&om=1

[Blancvino]

We are all freaks...in withdrawal.

yeah, and your point is? :D

[DrDomm]

yeah, and your point is? :D

Just showing my support...btw, that's my 2000th post.

[Blancvino]

Just showing my support...btw, that's my 2000th post.

Me too! Fun thread while endure the winter off ... might as well have a good time before the season starts.

Congrats on you hitting 2K!

[ZmanCartFan]

Great finds. I especially like the Surfer's shots and the Houston track map. I'm sitting here searching my brain to come up with some more possibilities, but I'm having a hard time with it.

I thought about posting a link to Indy with some snide remark, but thought better of it.

This may be a stretch, but could the marks down toward the bottom and up toward the top right around the HP Pavillion be tire marks from San Jose's 2005 race?

http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&q=HP+pavillion,+San+Jose,+CA+95110&ie=UTF8&z=18&ll=37.333134,-121.901196&spn=0.002854,0.004989&t=h&om=1

I can't quite remember the route they took around there.

[Skid Marx]

In the RuSport pic, if you expand out and look just to the northeast of RuSport HQ, you'll see this:

http://www.google.com/maps?hl=en&q=rusport+racing&near=Loveland,+CO&ie=UTF8&ei=1HR3RfSHFJfwqwKPp93MBg&cid=40439292,-104976046,6526539236979247444&li=lmd&t=k&z=18&ll=40.461364,-104.963041&spn=0.002657,0.004147&om=1

What looks like a KC-135, captured in flight. The blue image is a ghost image of the same aircraft.

[cmcgato]

I have a fotolog of race tracks from Google Earth

The URL is: http://www.fotolog.com/race_tracks

greetings

[Powered by Cosworth]

In the RuSport pic, if you expand out and look just to the northeast of RuSport HQ, you'll see this:

http://www.google.com/maps?hl=en&q=rusport+racing&near=Loveland,+CO&ie=UTF8&ei=1HR3RfSHFJfwqwKPp93MBg&cid=40439292,-104976046,6526539236979247444&li=lmd&t=k&z=18&ll=40.461364,-104.963041&spn=0.002657,0.004147&om=1

What looks like a KC-135, captured in flight. The blue image is a ghost image of the same aircraft.


I love looking for Aircraft on Google Earth, Passes the time on a lonely day :p

[McLeagle]

I love looking for Aircraft on Google Earth, Passes the time on a lonely day :p

Me too.

Thanks Skid, for that link; that's one (of many, I would guess) I haven't seen.

West of LAX:
link (http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&q=reno,+nv&ie=UTF8&z=18&ll=33.919668,-118.579205&spn=0.002284,0.005407&t=k&om=0)

and one of my favorites, though not airborne:
link (http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&q=london,+uk&ie=UTF8&z=18&ll=50.589071,30.206035&spn=0.001747,0.005407&t=k&om=0)

Say, what's this thread about....
sorry for the diversion!

Cheers

[jwhite9185]

http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&q=pkv+racing&sll=37.0625,-95.677068&sspn=33.901528,59.238281&ie=UTF8&z=19&ll=39.87542,-86.23041&spn=0.001002,0.001808&t=k&om=1

PKV racing - ex PacWest factory.

[JAC]

thanks jwhite....that was one I hadn't found yet.. I think Team Australia (Walker Racing) are in the building next door (east).

A few more I'm looking for (in my off-season boredom).
I have streets for these but not actual workshop locations
Forsythe
Newman-Haas
CTE
Conquest
Pacific Coast
Rocketsports

[jimispeed]

P I R

http://www.google.com/maps?ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&hl=en&tab=wl&q=portland%20international%20raceway

[jimispeed]

Burke Lakefront Airport

http://www.google.com/maps?ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&hl=en&tab=wl&q=burke%20lakefront%20airport

[jwhite9185]

thanks jwhite....that was one I hadn't found yet.. I think Team Australia (Walker Racing) are in the building next door (east).

A few more I'm looking for (in my off-season boredom).
I have streets for these but not actual workshop locations
Forsythe
Newman-Haas
CTE
Conquest
Pacific Coast
Rocketsports

Yeh Walker racing used to be next door to PacWest - so im assuming that Team Australia are still in that building. If i remember rightly, the Walker/Team Aus are in the smallish looking building below the PacWest/PKV building.

Looks like PKV have expanded the building they are in - looks bigger then when i visited there when PacWest were in it.

[gofastandwynn]

Points to those who can recall this one.

http://www.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&q=Savannah,+GA&ie=UTF8&t=h&om=1&z=16&ll=32.08781,-81.075668&spn=0.00869,0.026994&iwloc=addr

[Skid Marx]

Points to those who can recall this one.

http://www.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&q=Savannah,+GA&ie=UTF8&t=h&om=1&z=16&ll=32.08781,-81.075668&spn=0.00869,0.026994&iwloc=addr

Umm, that wasn't too hard, since they had the Savannah Golf Club labelled in the picture! Savannah, a once-only Indy Lights race (I believe it was 1997). It was a good venue, and the track still exists, with good facilities (Westin luxury hotel, convention center, golf course, other attractions) nearby. CC should look at Savannah! I don't know that it would be big enough for the Champ Cars, but at 1.965 miles that's bigger than many courses they've run on, plus no concrete canyons.

[Mark in Oshawa]

Savannah seems like it is just a myth, but I would like it. Just no one seems to even think about it, including those in Savannah....

[grungex]

Yeh Walker racing used to be next door to PacWest - so im assuming that Team Australia are still in that building. If i remember rightly, the Walker/Team Aus are in the smallish looking building below the PacWest/PKV building.

Looks like PKV have expanded the building they are in - looks bigger then when i visited there when PacWest were in it.
This is Derrick's shop. I'm almost 100% positive that PKV is not the large building to the left, it is the smaller building north of the purplish building. You pass PKV coming from the north before you get to Championship Drive.

http://maps.google.com/maps?ie=UTF8&oe=utf-8&q=derrick+walker+racing&om=1&z=18&ll=39.876221,-86.229984&spn=0.002552,0.0036&t=k&iwloc=A

[SteveA]

Champcar left a mark here - twice, and hopefully will again one day!

Rockingham Motor Speedway, UK http://tinyurl.com/y8qezh

(incredible detail on this area, you can almost make out individual blades of grass!)

[SteveA]

On the subject of planes - this one's not in flight- its not even real, but its important!

http://tinyurl.com/u5zm9

[jwhite9185]

This is Derrick's shop. I'm almost 100% positive that PKV is not the large building to the left, it is the smaller building north of the purplish building. You pass PKV coming from the north before you get to Championship Drive.

http://maps.google.com/maps?ie=UTF8&oe=utf-8&q=derrick+walker+racing&om=1&z=18&ll=39.876221,-86.229984&spn=0.002552,0.0036&t=k&iwloc=A

I think youre right actually. Been a long time since ive been to the area!

[McLeagle]

On the subject of planes - this one's not in flight- its not even real, but its important!

http://tinyurl.com/u5zm9

It is real - a real model; 1/3 scale ;)
The real thing is 1500 yards southeast:
right here (http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&q=dallas&ie=UTF8&om=0&z=19&ll=51.474318,-0.435945&spn=0.000857,0.002704&t=k&iwloc=addr)

And a couple more:
here (http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&q=heathrow+airport,+uk&sll=33.91981,-118.579409&sspn=0.260679,0.429153&ie=UTF8&om=0&z=18&ll=43.623627,1.347649&spn=0.001992,0.005407&t=k)
and here (http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&q=heathrow+airport,+uk&sll=33.91981,-118.579409&sspn=0.260679,0.429153&ie=UTF8&om=0&z=18&ll=43.616602,1.353394&spn=0.001992,0.005407&t=k&iwloc=addr)

And if you go to Paris:
one here (http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&q=dallas&ie=UTF8&z=19&ll=48.71579,2.372036&spn=0.000908,0.002704&t=k&om=0)
and one more (http://maps.yahoo.com/beta/index.php#q1=ord&mvt=s&trf=0&lon=2.553624&lat=49.010694&mag=1). That last one is on Yahoo maps, but that plane has been moved. Google has already updated theirs, and thus doesn't show it. (It's on display with a Tu-144 "Concordski"; I'm keeping my eyes open for when Google updates and includes it.) -- in retrospect, I think Google's shot is older, rather than updated.

There was also one on a barge in NYC at the Intrepid Museum, but it's been been moved while the Intrepid is being refitted. I had a screen cap, but can't find it now. (The plane is now at Floyd Bennett Field where Paul Newman wanted to have a Champ Car race (<-- see, on topic ;) )

And for airborne stuff, the infamous (to plane nuts) triple exposure at Frankfurt; actually 3 1/2 exposures - 3 planes, 4 shadows! (zoom out to see all the shadows)
link (http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&q=heathrow+airport,+uk&sll=33.91981,-118.579409&sspn=0.260679,0.429153&ie=UTF8&om=0&z=16&ll=50.051862,8.616242&spn=0.007068,0.021629&t=k)

Cheers

[SteveA]

And for airborne stuff, the infamous (to plane nuts) triple exposure at Frankfurt; actually 3 1/2 exposures - 3 planes, 4 shadows! (zoom out to see all the shadows)
link (http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&q=heathrow+airport,+uk&sll=33.91981,-118.579409&sspn=0.260679,0.429153&ie=UTF8&om=0&z=16&ll=50.051862,8.616242&spn=0.007068,0.021629&t=k)


What I find more interesting on that page is the expense thats been incurred to build railway tunnels under that expressway, where they could just have used the two lines that aleady pass under the bridge and split them after.

[tifosi77]

In the RuSport pic, if you expand out and look just to the northeast of RuSport HQ, you'll see this:

http://www.google.com/maps?hl=en&q=rusport+racing&near=Loveland,+CO&ie=UTF8&ei=1HR3RfSHFJfwqwKPp93MBg&cid=40439292,-104976046,6526539236979247444&li=lmd&t=k&z=18&ll=40.461364,-104.963041&spn=0.002657,0.004147&om=1

What looks like a KC-135, captured in flight. The blue image is a ghost image of the same aircraft.

THAT'S COOL! :cool:

I know in the San Jose image on GMaps you can scroll to the airport and see some traffic approaching the runways, but this one is a first.

Speaking of airplanes on GMaps.....
http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&q=tucson,+az&ie=UTF8&z=16&ll=32.170872,-110.852158&spn=0.007392,0.021973&t=k&om=1

[Skid Marx]

http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&q=Palmdale,+CA&ie=UTF8&z=19&ll=34.603,-118.086956&spn=0.001428,0.003326&t=k&om=1

Palmdale Production Plant No. 42, a.k.a. "The Skunk Works"

[Skid Marx]

http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&q=Palmdale,+CA&ie=UTF8&t=k&om=1&z=18&ll=34.958844,-117.883977&spn=0.002845,0.006652&iwloc=addr

Bonus points to whoever can guess the purpose of the structure in the center of the picture!

[Skid Marx]

http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&q=Palmdale,+CA&ie=UTF8&t=k&om=1&z=17&ll=34.901384,-117.875179&spn=0.005693,0.013304&iwloc=addr

This one is especially nice! Besides the B-52 and the two B-1 bombers, if you look closely you can see three Global Hawk UAVs in this picture from Edwards AFB. Since I have a feeling this thread will soon be closed for being off-topic, th-th-th-that's all, folks!

[garyshell]

http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&q=Palmdale,+CA&ie=UTF8&t=k&om=1&z=18&ll=34.958844,-117.883977&spn=0.002845,0.006652&iwloc=addr

Bonus points to whoever can guess the purpose of the structure in the center of the picture!

I think it is an engine test stand.

Gary

[JAC]

i believe that is the machine that lifted the space shuttle onto
the back of a 747 many years ago ;)

[McLeagle]

i believe that is the machine that lifted the space shuttle onto
the back of a 747 many years ago ;)

Ditto; not just many years ago, but still, if required.

[McLeagle]

Back on topic; Zhuhai

linky thing (http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&q=dallas&ie=UTF8&z=16&ll=22.367202,113.557155&spn=0.01018,0.021629&t=k&om=0)

Assen (http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&q=dallas&ie=UTF8&om=0&z=15&ll=52.958747,6.522403&spn=0.013262,0.043259&t=k)
Zolder (http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&q=dallas&ie=UTF8&om=0&z=14&ll=50.989125,5.25773&spn=0.027716,0.086517&t=k&iwloc=addr); not very clear, though. Click on "map", you can see the track - if you know what you're looking for (Zolder track) (http://www.eyes-e-tools.com//update/pages/cir_info3.asp?seq=46780&custid=126&catseq=25074,25082)

Some decent shots of Zolder (http://www.metrix.be/racephoto/album.php?gallery_id=76&index=1); click pics at bottom of page to see different views (or previous / next links).

Cheers

[McLeagle]

Couldn't resist. One more for the plane nuts.

link-thingy (http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&q=dallas&ie=UTF8&om=0&z=19&ll=29.278286,-82.116757&spn=0.0012,0.002704&t=k&iwloc=addr)

v
v
v
v
v
v
v
v
v
v
v
v
v
v
v
v


This is John Travolta's house. And yes, that is a Boeing 707 parked in his driveway - his own 707 (an ex-Qantas machine). Look carefully and you can see a jetway going from house to under the "carport". I guess he's not home, 'cause the other driveway is for his Gulfstream (GIII, I think), and it's not there. He's also a licensed 747 captain.

Must be nice, that's all I got to say.

[SteveA]

I can see he takes his carbon emmisions seriously. Have they built a runway at his local convenience store too, so that he can pop out and get a carton of milk? ;)

[schmenke]

Calgary ariport... Commercial on final approach to runway 34, over golf course.

http://maps.google.ca/maps?f=q&hl=en&q=calgary+alberta&ie=UTF8&z=16&ll=51.084251,-114.022079&spn=0.006484,0.021501&t=k&om=1

[Skid Marx]

i believe that is the machine that lifted the space shuttle onto
the back of a 747 many years ago ;)

We have a winner! Exactly, that's what they use to piggyback the shuttle on top of the 747 when they have to land at Edwards.

[McLeagle]

http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&q=Palmdale,+CA&ie=UTF8&t=k&om=1&z=17&ll=34.901384,-117.875179&spn=0.005693,0.013304&iwloc=addr

This one is especially nice! Besides the B-52 and the two B-1 bombers, if you look closely you can see three Global Hawk UAVs in this picture from Edwards AFB. Since I have a feeling this thread will soon be closed for being off-topic, th-th-th-that's all, folks!

Seeing as they moved our thread, I guess we can now post away ;) ;)

Skid, thanks for Palmdale and Edwards. At Palmdale there seems to be an "active" U2 taxiing in from the runway:
clickety-click (http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&q=Palmdale,+CA&ie=UTF8&om=0&z=19&ll=34.620305,-118.115859&spn=0.001132,0.002704&t=k&iwloc=addr)


And like the Calgary one above, a Delta (?-old livery?) MD8x climbing out of Hartsfield ATL:
The G (map) spot! (http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&q=dallas&ie=UTF8&om=0&z=19&ll=33.6518,-84.380531&spn=0.001145,0.002704&t=k&iwloc=addr)

Cheers

[btracer]

When I first looked at this thread, I thought you were all a bunch of saddos looking at planes but I'm intrigued now!! The sole reason i have come online today is to see what other planes people have found.

[btracer]

http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&q=Palmdale,+CA&ie=UTF8&t=k&om=1&z=18&ll=34.958844,-117.883977&spn=0.002845,0.006652&iwloc=addr

Bonus points to whoever can guess the purpose of the structure in the center of the picture!

What is that place? What are all the markings in the sand?

[schmenke]

btracer, Edwards AFB is the backup landing strip for the space shuttle when it re-enters from orbit. The preferred landing strip is in Florida but if weather does not permit, they will divert the shuttle to Edwards. The markings that you see in the sand are compass direction indicators that are visible from high altitudes. Also visible are "runways" in the desert sand. If you zoom out and pan South, you will see the actual runway used by the space shuttle.

[schmenke]

...And like the Calgary one above, a Delta (?-old livery?) MD8x climbing out of Hartsfield ATL:
The G (map) spot! (http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&q=dallas&ie=UTF8&om=0&z=19&ll=33.6518,-84.380531&spn=0.001145,0.002704&t=k&iwloc=addr)

Cheers

Nice detail and clarity on that one!

[SteveA]

There're a few planes here:

http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&q=area+51&ie=UTF8&z=12&ll=37.246728,-115.811348&spn=0.129816,0.341263&t=k&om=1&iwloc=addr

No space ships though (not outdoors, anyway!)

[Brown, Jon Brow]

Forget the Gold Coast, how about the Fylde Coast :p (Only 8 miles from my house :D )

http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&q=Palmdale,+CA&ie=UTF8&t=k&om=1&z=18&ll=34.958844,-117.883977&spn=0.002845,0.006652&iwloc=addr

[Brown, Jon Brow]

Forget Gold Coast. How about Flyde Coast :p (only 8 miles from my house :D )

http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?ie=UTF8&z=17&ll=53.815988,-3.05539&spn=0.002971,0.007296&t=k&om=1

[real_illusions]

has anyone spotted any ufo's?? :P

or crop circles

:)

i've managed to find the monaco f1 track :)

[SteveA]

You might see some ufo's if you look here:

http://moon.google.com/

[Skid Marx]

has anyone spotted any ufo's?? :P

:)


http://www.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&q=Area+51&ie=UTF8&z=13&t=k&om=1

If you look here you might see some UFOs. It's Groom Lake, Nevada, a.k.a. Area 51.

[Skid Marx]

btracer, Edwards AFB is the backup landing strip for the space shuttle when it re-enters from orbit. The preferred landing strip is in Florida but if weather does not permit, they will divert the shuttle to Edwards. The markings that you see in the sand are compass direction indicators that are visible from high altitudes. Also visible are "runways" in the desert sand. If you zoom out and pan South, you will see the actual runway used by the space shuttle.


Not only that, Edwards is the center for Air Force testing of high-tech aircraft. The sound barrier was broken here in 1947 by Chuck Yeager, and all of the X-planes (X-2, X-3,X-15, X-29, etc.), as well as experimental flyable re-entry vehicles were flown out of Edwards. The dry lakebed serves to make great runways for vehicles which may need a lot of room to land. I think the longest runway marked out in the sand is some 40,000 feet, over three times your normal runway at a large, metropolitan international airport.
Read "The Right Stuff" or any number of books dealing with the history of flight testing or the space program - it's fascinating stuff!

[Skid Marx]

You might see some ufo's if you look here:

http://moon.google.com/


Love the moon link! Did you see what happens if you zoom in all the way?

[Skid Marx]

Ships this time, not planes.

http://www.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&q=Murmansk,+Russia&ie=UTF8&z=16&ll=69.084127,33.418715&spn=0.00527,0.022016&t=k&om=1


Severomorsk, Russia (just outside Murmansk), home of the Russian Northern Fleet.

[Skid Marx]

http://www.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&q=RAF+Lakenheath,+UK&sll=69.007782,33.369727&sspn=0.021155,0.05991&ie=UTF8&z=18&ll=52.404772,0.572829&spn=0.002252,0.005504&t=k&om=1

F-15s based at RAF Lakenheath, England!

[Skid Marx]

http://www.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&q=Frankfurt,+Germany&ie=UTF8&z=18&ll=50.032717,8.572206&spn=0.002371,0.005504&t=k&om=1

C-17s based at Rhein-Main Air Base, Germany (just to the right of this frame are also a couple of C-5 Galaxy transports).

[Skid Marx]

http://www.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&q=Frankfurt,+Germany&ie=UTF8&t=k&om=1&z=16&ll=50.051531,8.6165&spn=0.009479,0.022016&iwloc=addr

This one's cool! Three large civil/transport aircraft on departure from Frankfurt, Germany, one right after the other. You can also see the shadows of all three on the ground. Actually, it's three separate exposures of the same aircraft on its departure route.

[Skid Marx]

http://www.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&q=Vladivostok,+Russia&ie=UTF8&z=18&ll=43.360524,132.064188&spn=0.002683,0.005504&t=k&om=1

Russian air defense fighter/interceptors, look to be Su-27s, at a base near Vladivostok.

[schmenke]

Ships this time, not planes.

http://www.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&q=Murmansk,+Russia&ie=UTF8&z=16&ll=69.084127,33.418715&spn=0.00527,0.022016&t=k&om=1


Severomorsk, Russia (just outside Murmansk), home of the Russian Northern Fleet.

I love this stuff :D :up:

There's at least one submarine visible too (pan right).

[schmenke]

Cold Lake, Alberta, Canada, home to Royal Canadian Air Force Squadron 409. CF-18 fighters visible, along with what appear to be USAF F-15s (the RCAF and USAF routinely conduct joint exercises). Also visible are heavy-lift craft to the right.

http://www.google.ca/maps?f=q&hl=en&q=cold+lake+alberta&ie=UTF8&z=17&ll=54.406886,-110.280322&spn=0.002679,0.010579&t=k&om=1

[Brown, Jon Brow]

This is RAF Duxford Imperial war museum. It will have alot of impressive aircraft in the Hangers. The Semi-circle shaped one in the bottom-left contains a B-52, in the other hangers there is Concorde 101 and other famous aircraft (Spitfires, Mustangs, Harriers, Vulcan bombers)

The runway is the shortest that a B-52 has ever been landed on ;)

http://wikimapia.org/#y=52093429&x=128939&z=17&l=0&m=a

[McLeagle]

http://www.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&q=Frankfurt,+Germany&ie=UTF8&t=k&om=1&z=16&ll=50.051531,8.6165&spn=0.009479,0.022016&iwloc=addr

This one's cool! Three large civil/transport aircraft on departure from Frankfurt, Germany, one right after the other. You can also see the shadows of all three on the ground. Actually, it's three separate exposures of the same aircraft on its departure route.

Hey Skid, pay attention! ;) I already posted the triple 747s in post #36. And there are actually 4 shadows!! Guess there were 4 exposures, but plane out of frame on one of them.

Here is a full zoom on "lead" plane - amazing detail!

linky-doo (http://www.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&q=Frankfurt,+Germany&ie=UTF8&om=0&z=19&ll=50.053872,8.624809&spn=0.000883,0.002704&t=k&iwloc=addr)

Cheers

[schmenke]

...

linky-doo (http://www.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&q=Frankfurt,+Germany&ie=UTF8&om=0&z=19&ll=50.053872,8.624809&spn=0.000883,0.002704&t=k&iwloc=addr)

Cheers

That is impressive! Flaps, slats still deployed...

[McLeagle]

Ships this time, not planes.
http://www.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&q=Murmansk,+Russia&ie=UTF8&z=16&ll=69.084127,33.418715&spn=0.00527,0.022016&t=k&om=1
Severomorsk, Russia (just outside Murmansk), home of the Russian Northern Fleet.

I love this stuff :D :up:

There's at least one submarine visible too (pan right).

And a bit further upriver is an aircraft carrier (http://www.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&q=Murmansk,+Russia&ie=UTF8&om=0&z=16&ll=69.040473,33.068869&spn=0.003938,0.021629&t=k).

And then way to the east a few hundred miles is another carrier and a Typhoon (?) class sub - the biggest subs going. Compare to the carrier; that's one huge sub (http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&q=dallas&ie=UTF8&om=0&z=17&ll=64.581253,39.812007&spn=0.002362,0.010815&t=k). The carrier looks like it's being refitted or ??.

Speaking of subs - here's one under way (http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&q=dallas&ie=UTF8&om=0&z=18&ll=35.123463,139.734845&spn=0.002251,0.005407&t=k).

Schmenke, I love this stuff too :D :up:

Cheers

[Skid Marx]

And a bit further upriver is an aircraft carrier (http://www.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&q=Murmansk,+Russia&ie=UTF8&om=0&z=16&ll=69.040473,33.068869&spn=0.003938,0.021629&t=k).

And then way to the east a few hundred miles is another carrier and a Typhoon (?) class sub - the biggest subs going. Compare to the carrier; that's one huge sub (http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&q=dallas&ie=UTF8&om=0&z=17&ll=64.581253,39.812007&spn=0.002362,0.010815&t=k). The carrier looks like it's being refitted or ??.

Speaking of subs - here's one under way (http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&q=dallas&ie=UTF8&om=0&z=18&ll=35.123463,139.734845&spn=0.002251,0.005407&t=k).

Schmenke, I love this stuff too :D :up:

Cheers

McLeagle,

Good spotting. The Typhoon-class sub is at Severodvinsk, just outside Arkhangel'sk, over 350 miles from Murmansk. Murmansk is on the Kola peninsula, bordering on the Barents Sea. Severodvinsk is on the White Sea. Besides being a military tachnology and racing nut, I'm also a geography nut! ;)

[Skid Marx]

http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&q=Murmansk,+Russia&ie=UTF8&z=16&ll=69.011317,33.650243&spn=0.005288,0.022016&t=k&om=0

Once again, just ouside Murmansk. Notice the facility, underground bunkers surrounded by an inner wall and two outer rings of fencing. Typical of a nuclear weapons storage facility.

[McLeagle]

...Besides being a military tachnology and racing nut, I'm also a geography nut! ;)

Looks like we'll get along just fine, except you need to brush up on your spelling ;) ;)

OK. Here's more. The Chinese also have a big aircraft carrier (http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&q=dallas&ie=UTF8&om=0&z=18&ll=38.941633,121.644187&spn=0.00214,0.005407&t=k).

Never did link our own Intrepid. It's been moved to Bayonne, NJ, for a refit, but Google hasn't updated yet. I mentioned this in an early post on this thread - this image predates the Concorde being part of the display. That destroyer (Edson, iirc) that's alongside in the current image left 2 years ago for ... Wisconsin (?), iirc... Sheboygan (?) ... for display there. The BA Concorde was put on that barge that's shown behind the carrier (I presume that's the barge), and moored where that destroyer was. I've read that Google went back to the older pic 'cause of better resolution. Anyway, to tie up both planes and ships, Ive focused on the A12 Blackbird (http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&q=dallas&ie=UTF8&z=19&ll=40.764486,-74.000159&spn=0.001042,0.002704&t=k&om=0) sitting on the carrier. The sub, the Growler, is also in Bayonne till the pier gets rebuilt.

Another little gem. B52s at Diego Garcia (http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&q=dallas&ie=UTF8&om=0&z=18&ll=-7.314694,72.41952&spn=0.00273,0.005407&t=k&iwloc=addr;); B2s are hiding in tents!

Cheers

Edit - Good find ^^^^ on that nuclear facility in the frozen wastes!!!!!! :up:

[Skid Marx]

http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&q=Tatishchevo,+Russia&ie=UTF8&z=17&ll=51.67501,45.485319&spn=0.004577,0.011008&t=k&om=0&iwloc=addr

http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&q=Tatishchevo,+Russia&ie=UTF8&t=k&om=0&z=17&ll=51.655692,45.606587&spn=0.004579,0.011008&iwloc=addr

http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&q=Tatishchevo,+Russia&ie=UTF8&t=k&om=0&z=18&ll=51.644505,45.602274&spn=0.00229,0.005504&iwloc=addr

Tatishchevo, Russia. Note the facilities, surrounded by as many as five rings of fencing, very sparse detail inside the fenced area, very few buildings, in one case a helipda just outside the fence, and usually what looks like a concrete disk on the ground. These are nucelar weapons launch facilities, SS-19 ICBMs.

[McLeagle]

Tatishchevo, Russia. Note the facilities, surrounded by as many as five rings of fencing, very sparse detail inside the fenced area, very few buildings, in one case a helipda just outside the fence, and usually what looks like a concrete disk on the ground. These are nucelar weapons launch facilities, SS-19 ICBMs.

Good stuff!! While checking it out, panned over to Leningrad (St. Petersburg, gotta get used to that) to see what I could find - so far just where they make Coke (http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&q=Tatishchevo,+Russia&ie=UTF8&om=0&z=18&ll=59.803403,30.328504&spn=0.001384,0.005407&t=k&iwloc=addr)!

[Skid Marx]

Looks like we'll get along just fine, except you need to brush up on your spelling ;) ;)

Another little gem. B52s at Diego Garcia (http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&q=dallas&ie=UTF8&om=0&z=18&ll=-7.314694,72.41952&spn=0.00273,0.005407&t=k&iwloc=addr;); B2s are hiding in tents!

[/i] :up:

Exactly! They always hide the B-2s from prying eyes in the sky. Same story at their home base, here:

http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&q=Whiteman+AFB,+MO&ie=UTF8&z=17&ll=38.73462,-93.55618&spn=0.005758,0.011008&t=k&om=0

The white shelters along the east side of the apron are the B-2 hangars.

[schmenke]

Good posts :up:

More Russian submarines docked at the Pacific Fleet base at Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, on the Kamchatka peninsula:

http://www.google.ca/maps?ie=UTF8&oe=UTF-8&hl=en&q=&z=16&ll=52.917132,158.489649&spn=0.005434,0.020964&t=k&om=1

[schmenke]

More boats :D ... USN flattops docked at Norfolk..

http://www.google.ca/maps?f=q&hl=en&q=norfolk+virginia&ie=UTF8&z=16&ll=36.954847,-76.329381&spn=0.007202,0.020964&t=k&om=1

[BobGarage]

Scottish Poo

http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&q=edinburgh&ie=UTF8&z=18&ll=55.957684,-3.310388&spn=0.002348,0.008926&t=h&om=1

[McLeagle]

That Poo reminds me, somebody a few pages back was looking for crop circles:

Here's real crop circles (http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&q=dallas&ie=UTF8&om=0&z=19&ll=53.531717,-1.356702&spn=0.000818,0.002704&t=k)...

and here's real crop circles (http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&q=dallas&ie=UTF8&om=0&z=12&ll=35.920196,-119.828568&spn=0.142632,0.346069&t=k)...

and more (http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&q=dallas&ie=UTF8&om=0&z=12&ll=38.829278,-118.222847&spn=0.137204,0.346069&t=k) of them...

and even more (http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&q=dallas&ie=UTF8&om=0&z=14&ll=36.09447,-102.520466&spn=0.035579,0.086517&t=k)...

and scads (http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&q=dallas&ie=UTF8&om=0&z=11&ll=35.993563,-102.10556&spn=0.284998,0.692139&t=k&iwloc=addr) of them...

and for Firefox (http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&q=dallas&ie=UTF8&z=18&ll=45.123804,-123.114064&spn=0.001942,0.005407&t=k&om=0) users...

and the compass rose (http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&q=dallas&ie=UTF8&om=0&z=16&ll=34.956553,-117.873774&spn=0.009022,0.021629&t=k&iwloc=addr) at Edwards...

and another (http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&q=dallas&ie=UTF8&om=0&z=17&ll=37.563842,-116.850822&spn=0.004363,0.010815&t=k&iwloc=addr) compass...

and not a circle (http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&q=dallas&ie=UTF8&om=0&z=16&ll=50.010676,-110.113091&spn=0.007074,0.021629&t=k) at all, but interesting anyway...

That's tonights episode...
Cheers

[Skid Marx]

http://www.google.ca/maps?ie=UTF8&oe=UTF-8&hl=en&q=&t=k&om=1&z=16&ll=64.288923,-149.193413&spn=0.006405,0.014656

BMEWS (Ballistic Missile Early Warning System) radars at Clear AFS, Alaska. If you pan just to the north you'll also see the PAVE PAWS phased-array radar.

[Skid Marx]

Volcanoes! This one is Mt. Etna. The orange glow you see in the center is the active magma.

http://www.google.ca/maps?f=q&hl=en&q=Sicily,+Italy&ie=UTF8&z=12&ll=37.751987,15.004921&spn=0.186761,0.347099&t=k&om=1

[Skid Marx]

http://www.google.ca/maps?f=q&hl=en&q=Baltimore+,+MD&ie=UTF8&z=19&ll=39.263157,-76.579846&spn=0.001429,0.002712&t=k&om=1

Fort McHenry, Baltimore, and...

http://www.google.ca/maps?f=q&hl=en&q=St.+Augustine,+FL&ie=UTF8&z=19&ll=29.897847,-81.311373&spn=0.0016,0.002712&t=k&om=1

Castillo de San Marcos, St. Augustine, FL

[schmenke]

Tanker in Panama Canal locks:

http://www.google.ca/maps?f=q&hl=en&q=panama&ie=UTF8&z=18&ll=8.997219,-79.592702&spn=0.002305,0.005241&t=k&om=1

[CarlMetro]

Harriers ready to go at RAF Wittering UK

http://www.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&q=RAF+Lakenheath,+UK&sll=69.007782,33.369727&sspn=0.021155,0.05991&ie=UTF8&z=18&ll=52.404772,0.572829&spn=0.002252,0.005504&t=k&om=1

[luvracin]

Harriers ready to go at RAF Wittering UK

http://www.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&q=RAF+Lakenheath,+UK&sll=69.007782,33.369727&sspn=0.021155,0.05991&ie=UTF8&z=18&ll=52.404772,0.572829&spn=0.002252,0.005504&t=k&om=1

They look like F-15s to me. They look like they have twin tails outside of two engines. Harriers have a pointy single tail.

IMO....

[luvracin]

Kenedy Space Center.....

http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&q=cape+canaveral,+florida&ie=UTF8&om=1&t=k&z=13&ll=28.606075,-80.650635&spn=0.073997,0.172005&iwloc=addr

[schmenke]

They look like F-15s to me. They look like they have twin tails outside of two engines. Harriers have a pointy single tail.
....

Looks like there's at least one Harrier there... second from bottom?

[Skid Marx]

Harriers ready to go at RAF Wittering UK

http://www.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&q=RAF+Lakenheath,+UK&sll=69.007782,33.369727&sspn=0.021155,0.05991&ie=UTF8&z=18&ll=52.404772,0.572829&spn=0.002252,0.005504&t=k&om=1

Dude, those aren't Harriers and that's not RAF Wittering. It's the same link I posted earlier - F-15s (E variant, to be specific) at RAF Lakenheath.

[CarlMetro]

Dude, those aren't Harriers and that's not RAF Wittering. It's the same link I posted earlier - F-15s (E variant, to be specific) at RAF Lakenheath.

I know, rather than putting in a newe search I panned across and it didn't work :bigcry: It was only when I tried the link myself that I realised but it was too damn late to edit :rolleyes:

It should have been..............

http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?f=q&hl=en&q=Wittering&sll=52.612684,-0.459875&sspn=0.001704,0.006008&ie=UTF8&z=18&ll=52.613153,-0.459393&spn=0.001704,0.006008&t=k&om=1

[Ian McC]

Place of work

http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?f=q&hl=en&q=stansted&sll=52.613765,-0.461504&sspn=0.000697,0.002688&ie=UTF8&z=15&ll=51.889653,0.253522&spn=0.011336,0.043001&t=k&om=1

[Ian McC]

I am sure they will get this finished someday, though I guess this pic isn't up to date.

http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?f=q&hl=en&q=wembley+stadium&sll=51.878399,0.289421&sspn=0.181424,0.462799&ie=UTF8&z=16&ll=51.556422,-0.279615&spn=0.00571,0.021501&t=k&om=1

[CarlMetro]

A 'proper' football ground ;)

http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?f=q&hl=en&q=White+hart+lane&ie=UTF8&z=17&ll=51.603112,-0.06624&spn=0.003485,0.012016&t=k&om=1

[CarlMetro]

One for schmenke ;)

Most of the British Naval Fleet, including a couple of flattops :D

http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?f=q&hl=en&q=White+hart+lane&ie=UTF8&t=h&om=1&z=15&ll=50.804714,-1.101079&spn=0.014184,0.048065

[McLeagle]

Good stuff all (except for the F-15 Harriers ;) - Harriers are AV8-Bs ;) and those were F15s!)

So, for today's installment, we have a brand new mapper. When the webpage loads, just click in the central dark area to hide it, and you're off to the races. (Before you click there, you might want to read the instructions ;) ). And a single click centers the map around where you click, unlike Google's double click. One item, the crosshair cursor is always there and can get to be annoying.

So, I saw we were doing volcanoes; OK...

The grand old lady of volcanoes, Vesuvius (http://www.flashearth.com/?lat=40.82618&lon=14.434367&z=14.1&r=0&src=ggl)

Mt. Oyama (http://www.flashearth.com/?lat=34.082505&lon=139.542958&z=12.5&r=0&src=ggl), Japan

Manam (http://www.flashearth.com/?lat=-4.070432&lon=145.050048&z=12.9&r=0&src=ggl), Papua New Guinea

Soufriere (http://www.flashearth.com/?lat=16.706439&lon=-62.181024&z=14&r=0&src=ggl), Montserrat

Bezymianny (http://www.flashearth.com/?lat=55.987207&lon=160.520133&z=13.2&r=0&src=ggl), Kamchatka

Closer to home, Mauna Loa (http://www.flashearth.com/?lat=19.46574&lon=-155.568966&z=12.3&r=0&src=ggl), Hawaii ...

... and Mt. St. Helens (http://www.flashearth.com/?lat=46.208426&lon=-122.168706&z=12.5&r=0&src=ggl)

And an undersea volcano that erupted last month and made it's own new island in Tonga (http://www.flashearth.com/?lat=-18.979077&lon=-174.749749&z=14.2&r=354&src=ggl)


PS - Zooming on Flashearth can be fun: Drag the slider up or down a whole bunch on the zoom control at top right, and keep finger down on mouse button ... if you've got a good broadband connection, watch it, you might even get dizzy :)

A couple more for fun

The Queen Mary (http://www.flashearth.com/?lat=33.753061&lon=-118.189686&z=19.1&r=339&src=ggl) (see how you can rotate this map!)

The Chase Tower (http://www.flashearth.com/?lat=41.881503&lon=-87.63073&z=19.2&r=0&src=ggl) in Chicago

Empire State Building (http://www.flashearth.com/?lat=40.748618&lon=-73.986377&z=19.4&r=151&src=ggl)

And the Renaissance Center (http://www.flashearth.com/?lat=42.329119&lon=-83.039014&z=18.6&r=29&src=ggl), Detroit

Cheers

[Skid Marx]

http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?f=q&hl=en&q=Nurburg,+Germany&sll=55.94871,-3.200841&sspn=0.002022,0.005493&ie=UTF8&z=18&ll=50.346874,6.953321&spn=0.002304,0.005493&t=k&om=1

Nurburg Castle, Nurburg, Germany (zoom out to see the Nurburgring circuit)

[McLeagle]

Hi Skid, we posted at about the same time!

Here's a surprise for you -

the click thing (http://www.flashearth.com/?lat=48.176506&lon=11.559573&z=19&r=0&src=ggl)

Same place (http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&q=dallas&ie=UTF8&om=0&z=19&ll=48.176561,11.559205&spn=0.000918,0.002704&t=k) in Google

Cheers

PS - you'll note in the top left of Flashearth, you can choose the base mapping system - I leave it on Google, the others can't compete (with a few exceptions where Yahoo is better than Google).

[Skid Marx]

http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?f=q&hl=en&q=Baikonur+Cosmodrome&sll=45.329944,33.047733&sspn=0.324874,0.477905&ie=UTF8&z=18&ll=45.920095,63.342426&spn=0.002512,0.005493&t=k&om=1

http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?f=q&hl=en&q=Baikonur+Cosmodrome&sll=45.329944,33.047733&sspn=0.324874,0.477905&ie=UTF8&t=k&om=1&z=18&ll=45.995978,63.56469&spn=0.002508,0.005493

Launch pads at Baikonur Cosmodrome, Kazakhstan

[McLeagle]

An example of where Yahoo beats Google:

Road America in Google (http://www.flashearth.com/?lat=43.798165&lon=-87.994783&z=14.9&r=88&src=ggl)

Road America in Yahoo (http://www.flashearth.com/?lat=43.798165&lon=-87.994783&z=16.4&r=88&src=yh)

Cheers

[CarlMetro]

An example of where Yahoo beats Google:

Road America in Google (http://www.flashearth.com/?lat=43.798165&lon=-87.994783&z=14.9&r=88&src=ggl)

Road America in Yahoo (http://www.flashearth.com/?lat=43.798165&lon=-87.994783&z=16.4&r=88&src=yh)

Cheers

Looks better still in the Ask.com (aerial) version ;)

[Skid Marx]

http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?f=q&hl=en&q=Kabul,+Afghanistan&ie=UTF8&z=18&ll=34.945315,69.260232&spn=0.002959,0.005493&t=k&om=1

Bagram Air Base, Afghanistan. Among others, you can see numerous C-130s, Chinooks, Blackhawks, Apaches, A-10 Warthogs, and one C-17 which apparently has just taxied off the south end of the runway.

[schmenke]

Directly over the Gateway Arch in St. Louis, Missouri. The arch itself appears only as a grey line, but its shadow is visible...

http://www.google.ca/maps?f=q&hl=en&q=st+louis&ie=UTF8&z=16&ll=38.624633,-90.18503&spn=0.007309,0.020964&t=k&om=1

[Skid Marx]

Ah yes, beautiful North Korea. We've got starvation, repression, a crazy leader with an even crazier hairdo, and...MiGs, lots and lots of MiGs!!!
No match for modern U.S. airpower, but they do have a lot of them. The ones at lower right are MiG-21s (or knock-off copies thereof, most likely Chinese-built), but the more numerous ones across the top of the picture are even older, look like maybe MiG-19s. That's really ancient, but if you throw enough of 'em up in the air, one's bound to get lucky.

http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?f=q&hl=en&q=Pyongyang,+North+Korea&ie=UTF8&z=18&ll=39.158651,127.487943&spn=0.002799,0.005493&t=k&om=1

[Skid Marx]

http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?f=q&hl=en&q=Yongbyon,+North+Korea&sll=38.988135,125.816031&sspn=0.022449,0.043945&ie=UTF8&z=17&ll=39.797285,125.753202&spn=0.005548,0.010986&t=k&om=1

The North Korean nuclear site at Yongbyon, where they're making their weapons-grade nuclear material.

[McLeagle]

@ Skid Marx - thanks for Baikonur; was going to look for it - you saved me the effort.

@ CarlMetro - thanks for pointing out Ask.com; I never even tried it; now I have another option!

Today's installment:

Hoover Dam (http://www.flashearth.com/?lat=36.015449&lon=-114.738378&z=18.3&r=25&src=ggl)

Aswan Dam (http://www.flashearth.com/?lat=23.973287&lon=32.875406&z=16&r=0&src=ggl)

Glen Canyon Dam (http://www.flashearth.com/?lat=36.93644&lon=-111.483649&z=17.7&r=3&src=ggl)

Grand Coulee Dam (http://www.flashearth.com/?lat=47.958594&lon=-118.980422&z=15.7&r=3&src=ggl)

Three Gorges Dam (http://www.flashearth.com/?lat=30.739568&lon=111.273799&z=15.8&r=3&src=ggl)

Cheers

[schmenke]

Three Gorges Dam[/URL]



Thanks McLeagle, but that's actually the Gezhouba Dam, a few kilometers downstream of the Three Gorges complex. The Gezhouba dam was constructed in the early 1980s. That's the city of Yichang to the right. A few years ago I spent quite a bit of time working on the Three Gorges jobsite. If you pan NW from that image, basically following the Yangtze river upstream, you will see a low-res image of the Three Gorges dam site...

http://www.flashearth.com/?lat=30.828527&lon=111.011101&z=14.3&r=3&src=ggl

This image is several years old as it shows the dam still only in it's early phase of construction :) .

[schmenke]

The Palm Jumeirah, Dubai:

http://www.google.ca/maps?f=q&hl=en&q=dubai&sll=49.891235,-97.15369&sspn=24.684866,57.041016&ie=UTF8&t=k&om=1&z=14&ll=25.114591,55.145702&spn=0.035672,0.055704

[CarlMetro]

The Palm Jumeirah, Dubai:

http://www.google.ca/maps?f=q&hl=en&q=dubai&sll=49.891235,-97.15369&sspn=24.684866,57.041016&ie=UTF8&t=k&om=1&z=14&ll=25.114591,55.145702&spn=0.035672,0.055704

.........and just to the northeast of The Palm is the Burj Al Arab, the only 7* hotel in the world and at 321m high, it's also the world's tallest.

http://www.google.ca/maps?f=q&hl=en&q=dubai&sll=49.891235,-97.15369&sspn=24.684866,57.041016&ie=UTF8&t=k&om=1&z=18&ll=25.140943,55.185474&spn=0.002613,0.004249

Cheapest room will cost £900 a night, bed and breakfast only :eek:

[schmenke]

.........Cheapest room will cost £900 a night, bed and breakfast only :eek:

Can I book a room using my air mile points? :D

[McLeagle]

Thanks McLeagle, but that's actually the Gezhouba Dam ...
http://www.flashearth.com/?lat=30.828527&lon=111.011101&z=14.3&r=3&src=ggl
This image is several years old as it shows the dam still only in it's early phase of construction :) .

Thanks, Schmenke. I kinda thought I might have the wrong dam - it didn't look quite like I remembered seeing on TV; but that was at least a couple of years ago, and, probably, an artist's impression. However, I cruised up and down the river (virtually) and that was the dam I found. I thought that area were the dam actually is could have been an old diversion dam to allow construction of the main dam. WRONG again!!! Oh, well, I was close ;) .

And I see while cruising up and down the Yangtze, I forgot to finish posting my dams. Before the Three Gorges, the largest (in hydro-power, anyway) in the world was the Itaipu Dam in Brazil and Paraguay:

Itaipu Dam (http://www.flashearth.com/?lat=-25.4121&lon=-54.590989&z=16&r=3&src=ggl)

Couple of other S. American dams:

Salto Grande Dam (http://www.flashearth.com/?lat=-31.275699&lon=-57.938879&z=16.4&r=3&src=ggl), border of Uruguay-Argentina

Tucurui Dam (http://www.flashearth.com/?lat=-3.83022&lon=-49.643286&z=16.2&r=3&src=ggl), Brazil

Thanks, again for the correction.


The Palm Jumeirah, Dubai:
http://www.google.ca/maps?f=q&hl=en&q=dubai&sll=49.891235,-97.15369&sspn=24.684866,57.041016&ie=UTF8&t=k&om=1&z=14&ll=25.114591,55.145702&spn=0.035672,0.055704

... speaking of 'old' satellite images, I zoomed out on the Palm, and it disappeared! Some of the "wider" images are obviously older!



.........and just to the northeast of The Palm is the Burj Al Arab, the only 7* hotel in the world and at 321m high, it's also the world's tallest.
http://www.google.ca/maps?f=q&hl=en&q=dubai&sll=49.891235,-97.15369&sspn=24.684866,57.041016&ie=UTF8&t=k&om=1&z=18&ll=25.140943,55.185474&spn=0.002613,0.004249


And nearby they are building the Burj Dubai, which will be the tallest building in the world (incl CN Tower) @ 2650' +. It's up to 107 floors of about 216 projected, as of today, 01/22/2007 (wikipedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Burj_Dubai)). Wiki also gives exact Lat and Long, but Google Maps et al show nothing yet, but for a 'construction zone'.

Burj Dubai (http://www.burjdubai.com/content/thetower.asp)

Dubai Megaprojects (http://dubaimegaprojects.com/)

Cheers

[edv]

If you guys and gals are really into this stuff, you should join over at http://virtualglobetrotting.com/

I've been there a couple of years, and there is a pretty big database of just this kind of stuff. Chances are someone has found your gems long ago.

[schmenke]

...

Tucurui Dam (http://www.flashearth.com/?lat=-3.83022&lon=-49.643286&z=16.2&r=3&src=ggl), Brazil

...

Great stuff McLeagle.

If you zoom out a little you can see some disturbing evidence (low-res) of the massive deforestation occuring in that region :( . For example, pan West...

http://www.flashearth.com/?lat=-3.817388&lon=-50.653935&z=10.4&r=3&src=ggl

More here...

http://www.flashearth.com/?lat=-11.114861&lon=-62.172737&z=7.3&r=3&src=ggl

Ugly :(

[Brown, Jon Brow]

And nearby they are building the Burj Dubai, which will be the tallest building in the world (incl CN Tower) @ 2650' +. It's up to 107 floors of about 216 projected, as of today, 01/22/2007 (wikipedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Burj_Dubai)). Wiki also gives exact Lat and Long, but Google Maps et al show nothing yet, but for a 'construction zone'.

Burj Dubai (http://www.burjdubai.com/content/thetower.asp)

Dubai Megaprojects (http://dubaimegaprojects.com/)

Cheers


That's a rediculously high building. twice as high as the Empire State building :s hock:

I wish that the UK would undertake magnificent projects like that, but if we did people would complain that money could have bought 500 baby-incubaters or hospital beds (because that's the standard way of measuring the value of something :rolleyes: ) The highest building in London is only 250 meters.

http://www.owlfish.com/weblog/2005/02/canary-wharf.jpg

There is an impressve building near where I live in Preston
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St_Walburge%27s_Church
http://img233.imageshack.us/img233/2763/walburge14zb.jpg

[McLeagle]

@ edv - thanks for that link; or maybe no thanks - I'm wasting too much time on this as is... ;)

@ schmenke - yup; the way they're cutting down the rainforest is truly... ugly. Good word for it... ugly. Check out Madagascar; it's almost all deforested; tragic.



That's a rediculously high building.

[smartass mode] That's a ridiculous way to spell ridicu..... [/smartass mode]

I agree that building is crazy. But Sheikh Maktoum bin Rashid Al Maktoum and Family have several hundred gazillion dollars from the oil they've sold and are looking to 'invest' it. The Burj al Arab and the Palm are 2 examples; they threw away a chunk on A1GP; they're building an airport to end all airports in Dubai; for their airline (Emirates), they've ordered 45 A380 superjumbos, 40 777s, and will be ordering 100 787s or A350s; they set up Dubai Ports to buy and operate half or more of the seaports in the world.

They are trying to prepare for when their oil runs out. If they do nothing, it'll just be a small piece of desert wasteland, and somewhere along the line they (or their descendants) would not be able to continue living in the manner to which they've become accustomed.

IMHO, of course!!

More from Google:

Forgot one when doing crop circles. Not crops at all, but GM's (former?) Arizona Proving Ground (http://www.flashearth.com/?lat=33.334681&lon=-111.620565&z=15.2&r=3&src=ggl).

And some pyramids:

Great Pyramids of Giza (http://www.flashearth.com/?lat=29.977611&lon=31.132779&z=17.4&r=3&src=ggl), Egypt

Pyramid of the Sun (http://www.flashearth.com/?lat=19.692192&lon=-98.843777&z=18.5&r=3&src=ggl), Mexico City

and how about Las Vegas - the Luxor Hotel (http://www.flashearth.com/?lat=36.095474&lon=-115.175711&z=18.8&r=3&src=ggl)

Oh, and a great day for DP01s and Ms Legge !!!!!!! Cheers

[schmenke]

...Great Pyramids of Giza (http://www.flashearth.com/?lat=29.977611&lon=31.132779&z=17.4&r=3&src=ggl), Egypt
...

Pan East a tad and the Sphynx is visible (the original one ;) )...

http://www.flashearth.com/?lat=29.975267&lon=31.137633&z=18.8&r=3&src=ggl

P.s. Thanks edv... good site :up:

[schmenke]

Where I work: :p :

http://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&t=k&q=Canada&ie=UTF8&om=1&z=18&ll=51.047559,-114.079424&spn=0.00145,0.005241


Yeah, I know... spectacular eh? :dozey:

[edv]

Hey, is that Monenco Place? I used to work kitty-corner in the brick building.

[CarlMetro]

This is where American warbirds go to die :(

http://maps.google.com/maps?ie=UTF8&q=Davis+Monthan+Air+force&hl=en&near=&f=l&sll=37.0625,-95.677068&sspn=38.365962,70.488281&z=15&ll=32.153815,-110.839348&spn=0.020056,0.048494&t=h&om=1

For those of you with Google Earth, check out Lat 32° 9'19.83"N Long 110°50'56.33"W and switch on the community thingie and you'll see just what if parked down there.

Bear in mind that you'll need to pan around a bit to see all of them, it's one huge place with what used to be $billions just sitting there.

[Skid Marx]

Where I work: :p :

http://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&t=k&q=Canada&ie=UTF8&om=1&z=18&ll=51.047559,-114.079424&spn=0.00145,0.005241


Yeah, I know... spectacular eh? :dozey:

As long as we're posting workplaces, here's mine:

http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&q=Melbourne,+FL&ie=UTF8&z=19&ll=28.103999,-80.675797&spn=0.001486,0.002701&t=k&om=1

One word of warning - if you go for a walk around the pond, watch out for alligators!

[schmenke]

Hey, is that Monenco Place? I used to work kitty-corner in the brick building.

Yep. It's called AMEC Place now.

[Skid Marx]

This one is way cool! Just click to go to the enclosed .kmz link (you'll have to have Google Earth installed, but hey, it's free!). When the display finishes zooming in to a predtermined height, just click and hold your zoom-in button to see the Earth open up and swallow you!