Summary of the Article:
Commercial satellite imagery has the capability to see a car, but it is not allowed to provide detailed information such as the make and model of the car. Some non-military satellites can see objects as small as half the size of a car, while military satellites can see even smaller objects. However, most applications require observing larger areas, which requires different satellites. Satellites differ in the level of detail they can capture, and NOAA’s satellites cannot see someone’s house. The average commercial satellite cannot take detailed images at night or through clouds, but Capella uses SAR technology that enables it to capture images regardless of weather or lighting conditions. Satellite sensors can detect visible light, ultraviolet light, and infrared light, recording this information in different portions of the electromagnetic spectrum. The smallest objects visible to satellites are around 500-1,000 meters in size. Satellites cannot see through buildings, although they can image through extreme weather events and atmospheric conditions. Spy satellites can cost around $390 million, including maintenance and repair expenses. Satellites can capture pictures of people.
Questions:
1. Can a satellite see a car?
Yes, commercial satellite imagery is powerful enough to see a car, but it cannot provide detailed information about its make and model.
2. How much detail can spy satellites see?
A few non-military satellites can see objects down to about half the size of a car, while some military satellites can see even smaller objects. However, for most applications, larger areas need to be observed, requiring different satellites.
3. Can satellites see us?
No, satellites differ in the level of detail they can capture, and NOAA’s satellites cannot see someone’s house.
4. Can spy satellites see at night?
The average commercial satellite cannot peer through clouds or capture detailed images of interest points at night. However, Capella uses SAR technology that allows it to snap images regardless of weather or light conditions.
5. What can satellites detect?
Satellite sensors can detect visible light, ultraviolet light, and infrared light. They record this information in different portions of the electromagnetic spectrum.
6. What is the smallest thing a satellite can see?
The smallest objects visible to satellites are around 500-1,000 meters in size. Satellites closer to Earth can capture images using both visible and invisible wavelengths of light.
7. Can satellites see through walls?
No, SAR technology can image through extreme weather events, clouds, and other atmospheric conditions but cannot see through buildings.
8. How much does a spy satellite cost?
A typical weather satellite costs around $290 million, while a spy satellite could cost an additional $100 million. Additionally, maintenance and repair expenses add to the overall cost.
9. Can satellites take pictures of people?
Yes, satellites are capable of capturing pictures of people.
/https://www.thespec.com/content/dam/thespec/news/world/2014/03/21/why-satellites-can-see-licence-plates-but-not-the-missing-malaysian-plane/B821563997Z.1_20140321133203_000_GN1172AJ5.1_Gallery.jpg)
Can a satellite see a car
Commercial satellite imagery is powerful enough to see a car, for example, but isn't allowed to be detailed enough to identify the make and model, according to the MIT Technology Review.
Cached
How much detail can spy satellites see
A few non-military satellites can see objects down to about half the size of a car. Some military satellites can still see even smaller things. But that does not tell us the whole story. For most applications we need to see larger areas, which requires other satellites that observe at a different scale.
Can satellites see us
The answer is: no. Satellites differ greatly in the level of detail they can “see”. Why can't NOAA's satellites see someone's house
Can spy satellites see at night
The average commercial satellite is unable to peer through clouds or shoot detailed images of interest points at night, but Capella uses SAR that can snap images regardless of weather or light conditions.
What can satellites detect
Human eyes can detect only visible light—the colors of the rainbow. Satellite sensors can also detect ultraviolet and infrared light. The sensors record this information in different portions of the electromagnetic spectrum, which is measured in wavelengths.
What is the smallest thing a satellite can see
The smallest objects they can see are 500–1,000 m in size. Satellites that orbit closer to Earth can take pictures using the both visible (to humans) and invisible wavelengths of light.
Can satellites see through walls
The Myth of the Transparent Building. SAR does not see through buildings. It can image through extreme weather events, clouds, volcanic ash and other atmospheric conditions — but it will not image through a building.
How much does a spy satellite cost
A typical weather satellite carries a price tag of $290 million; a spy satellite might cost an additional $100 million [source: GlobalCom]. Then there's the expense of maintaining and repairing satellites.
Can satellites take pictures of people
Satellites are capable of taking photographs from space, but most of the thousands of cameras in orbit are unconcerned with your house, experts say.
Do police use satellite surveillance
Law enforcement agencies are now able to use satellite imagery to monitor suspicious activity, such as drug trafficking, illegal immigration, and terrorism. Satellites can also be used to identify and track suspects, as well as to monitor their movements.
What can satellites not measure
Since satellites technically measure neither temperature nor the surface (where people live), it's safe to say that ground thermometers are more accurate than satellite measurements.
Can a satellite see 50% of the Earth
A satellite in orbit around the earth cannot see half of the earth because of a simple geometric effect known as perspective. As shown in the diagram, when an observer is looking at a sphere, he can only see the portion of the sphere that lies in front of the points where his line of sight is tangential to the sphere.
How many spy satellites does the US have
There were a lot of United States military satellite projects that were started in the 1950s. Now, there are 123 military satellites run by the United States that orbit the Earth.
How far can spy satellites zoom in
Though, ordinarily, aerial photography is the highest 'zoom' displayed. To date, the greatest resolution accessible with commercial optical satellite data is 30 cm per pixel, which equates to a 12 x 12-inch area on the ground under optimal conditions.
Can spy satellites see through walls
SAR does not see through buildings. It can image through extreme weather events, clouds, volcanic ash and other atmospheric conditions — but it will not image through a building.
Can a civilian own a satellite phone
Traditional sat phones buyers are government and public safety agencies, energy companies, shippers, and search and rescue organizations. But an increasing number of private individuals are buying sat phones as an insurance policy against losing their capability to communicate with the world.
What can satellite cameras see
Satellite cameras allow to get the following images:Panchromatic.Multispectral (multizone), ranging from visible to infrared electromagnetic radiation.Hyperspectral, simultaneously capturing narrow spectral zones in all parts of the spectral range.
What can be tracked by satellite
These signals can be transmitted to GPS devices and can provide information such as location, vehicle speed, time, duration, and direction. GPS satellite tracking is a valuable tool that your company can use to manage your fleet and coordinate your workforce when it's spread across the map, including in remote areas.
Is it rare to see a satellite
And in fact most satellites — especially the bits of debris — are too faint to be seen with the unaided eye. But depending on who's counting, several hundred can be spotted with the unaided eye.
What is the farthest seeing satellite
Voyager 1
| Spacecraft properties | |
|---|---|
| Distance | 124,000 km (77,000 mi) |
| Flyby of Titan (atmosphere study) | |
| Closest approach | November 12, 1980 |
| Distance | 6,490 km (4,030 mi) |
Can spy satellites listen to conversations
US satellites are, in principle, able to listen in to the billions of conversations and messages coming from or going to cell phones but the scale of doing so is daunting because of the huge numbers of phones in use. Before the eavesdroppers can decide if a conversation is worth listening to they have to decrypt it.
Who has the most private satellites
Who owns the most satellites orbiting Earth SpaceX owns and operates the most satellites orbiting Earth. The space company's 1,655 satellites make up more than a third of the total satellites in orbit. Why are there so many SpaceX satellites in orbit
Why are satellite phones illegal
Legal restrictions
In some countries, possession of a satellite phone is illegal. Their signals will usually bypass local telecoms systems, hindering censorship and wiretapping attempts, which has led some intelligence agencies to believe that satellite phones aid terrorist activity.
Can the government track a satellite phone
Authorities can find the position of a satellite phone using manual triangulation, but in order to track a phone in this manner, the individual would need to be relatively close by.
Which satellite is used for spying
A reconnaissance satellite or intelligence satellite (commonly, although unofficially, referred to as a spy satellite) is an Earth observation satellite or communications satellite deployed for military or intelligence applications.
