Play picture detective!

March 31, 2003 8:25 AM

How on Earth was this image made? Here is an opportunity for you to play image detective. How on Earth was this image made? Is it a painting, or a map? Is it a photograph? If so, was it taken from a high-flying aircraft, or from outer space? Is it a satellite image, or possibly even something else? Click to read the feature article when you’re ready to check your answer. (cheers, lagado)
posted by Ufez Jones (16 comments total)

This isn't the thing where it flashes the scary picture and screams at you after 30 seconds, right?

(Nice link)
posted by XQUZYPHYR at 8:41 AM on March 31, 2003

It took me a second to figure out what I was looking at. When I did, my jaw literally dropped. I didn't know that actually happened.
posted by PinkStainlessTail at 8:46 AM on March 31, 2003

And it's still cool after reading the explanation.
posted by PinkStainlessTail at 8:48 AM on March 31, 2003

The explanation is a little long winded, but worth reading.
posted by blade at 8:50 AM on March 31, 2003

This isn't the thing where it flashes the scary picture and screams at you after 30 seconds, right?

lol, XQetc.
posted by Ufez Jones at 8:56 AM on March 31, 2003

Not callin dp - just pointing out how, for one glorious moment, I was ahead of the curve.
posted by gottabefunky at 9:04 AM on March 31, 2003

It's a Fark Photoshopping excercise, right?

On second look, it's probably from a B3ta contest. No, wait—Worth1000!
posted by Mo Nickels at 9:08 AM on March 31, 2003

OOooooooOOO, earth made beauty combined with man made beauty. Wonderful post!
posted by zerofoks at 9:14 AM on March 31, 2003

[space is cool]

And isn't it interesting how close to the Earth you have to be to see any signs that it is inhabited? Images like this always give me a bit of a different perspective.
posted by WolfDaddy at 9:14 AM on March 31, 2003

Cool, now I can send this link to my mother, who first forwarded me this image as "the last photo ever taken from the space shuttle Colombia". Poor woman believes everything she gets in her inbox.
posted by Hackworth at 9:17 AM on March 31, 2003

'Click Here To View Full Image' / Right Click / Set As Background. Oooh wow, you can see my house from here. Lovely link, thanks.
posted by punilux at 10:22 AM on March 31, 2003

Very nice link, Ufez.
posted by riffola at 10:38 AM on March 31, 2003

'Click Here To View Full Image' / Right Click / Set As Background.

Heh, punlinux, I did that too.
posted by jennyb at 11:29 AM on March 31, 2003

That curve in the terminator is a striking illustration of how distorted flat maps usually are.
posted by straight at 11:38 AM on March 31, 2003

Beautiful picture, fascinating explanation. Excellent link.
posted by DrJohnEvans at 1:12 PM on March 31, 2003

[this is good] - thanks Ufez Jones!
posted by madamjujujive at 10:11 PM on March 31, 2003