...so that you could see the US states from outer space?
2006-09-05 04:07:07 · 14 answers · asked by Anonymous in Science & Mathematics ➔ Geography
No. That would be a pointless waste of money.
Besides, you already have a virtual road map of the US interstate system that can be seen from space just due to the tendency for communities along the interstate to grow so quickly. It's easy to see how the interstates have become the US's modern equivalent of rivers.
http://veimages.gsfc.nasa.gov/1438/earth_lights_lrg.jpg
You used to be able to get a much bigger, more detailed picture of the world's city lights, but I can't find it right now. I ordered a rather large poster of this for my father's birthday one year.
The online version makes it hard to pick out details on the East coast, but you can trace I-80 all the way from Omaha to San Francisco and I-20 all the way from Atlanta out past Dallas into western Texas, plus trace several other western interstates.
The railroad across Russia is also very easy to pick out.
As you can tell, beachfront property is highly coveted in the US and Europe.
If we had a government like North Korea, light pollution wouldn't be such a problem in the US. Check out the contrast between South Korea and North Korea in this picture: http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/dprk/dprk-dark.htm
You can pick out the DMZ, which is lighted for security purposes.
2006-09-05 04:45:47 · answer #1 · answered by Bob G 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
The border of Hawaii might be a challenge.
What would happen to Texarkana & other border cities?
Have you seen the borders of Maryland?
What about the borders in the Rockies?
Sum it up - not the best idea especially given that there aren't a lot of people in space to see the result and this would only add to the Trillion Dollar Debt.
2006-09-05 06:16:17 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
No. The cost to purchase, install, and power them would be way too much. Also, astronomers complain about light pollution already. Almost every observatory was built way out in the sticks to get away from the lights of urban areas because it clouds the view of the stars. Why deliberately add to that problem?
2006-09-05 04:11:59 · answer #3 · answered by Ralfcoder 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
You can already see the US states from space (just not the borders)....dumbass.
If you want to ask a stupid question in a feeble attempt at humor, the least you can do is think a bit first.
2006-09-05 07:38:41 · answer #4 · answered by Sheik Yerbouti 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Super idea! Then we could use up energy reserves even more quickly than at present. At least the USA would go out in a blaze of light. What was that 70's saying? 'Will the last person to leave New York please put out the lights.'
2006-09-05 05:13:23 · answer #5 · answered by cymry3jones 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I live in Tucson, AZ. so I'm fairly familiar with that problem.
I'd support Citizen Groups patrolling the Border. And, when a group of them came across, shoot as many of them as possible and dump their bodies back on the other side.
I'd also support mandatory deportation and 5 years in jail for anyone who hires an illegal alien.
But people say I'm a hardass ☺
Doug
2006-09-05 04:12:45 · answer #6 · answered by doug_donaghue 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
I wouldn't bother with the border between Canada in the USA..No one in Canada wants to move there..lol
2006-09-05 04:13:26 · answer #7 · answered by oneblondepilgrim 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I guess you are going to pay the bill to the electricity company right? What a smart way of waste money meanwhile people die of hunger!!!
2006-09-05 07:21:52 · answer #8 · answered by Incubus 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Sure. They could work on solar power and it would be more cost effective. Or they could hire people to work for minimum wage to power them with a crank.
2006-09-05 04:13:18 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
Why, sure! No amount of wastefulness is ever enough to satisfy American egotism.
Idiot.
2006-09-05 04:16:14 · answer #10 · answered by poorcocoboiboi 6 · 1⤊ 1⤋