The author posted a question in Science, Technology, Languages
What is the smallest object on Earth that can be seen from Earth orbit? and got a better answer
Response from
Without optics from Mir it was possible to see large ships in the sea, more precisely their keel trace. Special satellites and probes like Almaz allow you to see an object of 5 centimeters in size plus minus 1-2 cm. And this, by the way, is a development of the late eighties. I think there are more powerful systems. Cities from space can be seen very well on the night side. I think there is not a single large city on Earth that is not visible from space on the unlit side of the Earth. The night illumination of Almaty, for example, allows you to see the glow from it as early as 50 kilometers away. My father and I found this out several times when we drove away from the city for such a distance in winter.
Without optics from Mira it was possible to see large ships at sea or rather their keel trail. Special satellites and probes such as Almaz allow seeing an object of 5 centimeters size plus or minus 1-2 centimeters. And this, by the way, is a development of the late eighties. I think there are more powerful systems. Cities from space can be seen very well on the night side. I think there is not a single large city on Earth that is not visible from space on the unlit side of the Earth. The night illumination of Almaty, for example, allows you to see the glow from it as early as 50 kilometers away. My father and I have found it out several times when we were driving away from the city for such a distance in winter.
island
You won't see anything in person, but modern spy satellites can read the writing on matchboxes.
The resolution of the images is so high you can read a newspaper.
If you take the naked eye and artificial objects, you can see the Great Wall of China. If you take natural objects, you can see lakes and islands. If you arm yourself with special magnifying equipment, you can see anything, up to a gnat on the roof of the house.
Australia.
I watched a program with the astronauts, they said that in the first days only the map, and after 2-3 weeks they were able to see the ships at sea. About the newspaper from the satellite - nonsense! -You can calculate what the optics should be, the digital just increases the pixels, so do not believe about the newspapers
without optics only islands and with it you can read newspapers in the park