How do space cameras see the continents?when i ride on aircrafts i see mainly clouds below?

Question

How do space cameras see the continents?when i ride on aircrafts i see mainly clouds below?

Answer 1

First of all, satellites are located much higher than most aircraft can fly, thus, their cameras can see the entirety of the continents. Second, these satellites often have sophisticated imaging devices on board that enables them to see through clouds. One such device is the "synthetic aperture radar", used by the military in unmanned reconnaissance.=)

Answer 2

Despite what has been said above IR doesn't see through clouds. Most imaging from space is done over cloudless regions or using radar.

Answer 3

if its a clear sky you will see the countrys below.......duhhhhh

Answer 4

infrared, and they're lots higher than you are in a plane.

Answer 5

Cameras on satelites taking pictures of the landscape for programs like http://www.earth.google.com  take the pictures over long periods of time and only when there are no clouds in the sky.  They then piece them together to make their program that shows the entire earth.

Answer 6

Space cameras are out there in orbit around the earth. (I assume by space cameras you mean those on satellites.) By comparison, you in an aircraft are still hugging the surface. So naturally they can see the bigger picture than you in an aircraft can.

Answer 7

infra red satelite images

Answer 8

What you see below depends on the weather for one thing. If the area you're flying over is cloudy, then that's what you're mostly going to see. The view from space for that area would be no different.

The main difference is that your field of view is still very limited compared to the view from space. From space, you can see the entire continent at once, and your perception can connect the lines of the continents' edges, even if they disappear behind clouds.

The tradeoff is in the details that you can see. From airline altitude (~30 thousand feet) you can still make out roads, farms, houses, etc. From space, even these become difficult to see. You can make out a metropolitan area as a different color / composition than an open plain or mountains or forests, but you won't see roads or houses anymore.