2006-09-10 20:55:59 · 7 answers · asked by Lt.1388 1 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Astronomy & Space
As in a plane!
2006-09-10 21:04:32 · update #1
Well, it'd have to stay within the atmosphere, or it couldn't breathe. That means it'd have to fly about the same speed as the rotation of the Earth---about 67,000 miles per hour. One fast bird!
2006-09-10 21:01:16 · answer #1 · answered by Ander 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Assuming that you mean a sunset at the equator and that you plan to fly in 1 direction in a plane perpendicular to the axis of earth's rotation
The sum of ( altitude + earth's radius ) in miles or km multiplied by 2 TT (pi) and divided by 24 hours to get the speed in mph or km/h.
If you are on the earths surface, at the equator, at least 1669.8 km per hour
Anything higher up in the air and it's a higher speed you need.
Anything further from the equator, nearer to the south or north poles and the speed is lower for the same altitude.
Or you can just bring a mini flat screened plasma tv and place it in the cockpit of the plane and watch a sunset over and over.
2006-09-10 21:03:36 · answer #2 · answered by lkraie 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Assuming you are at the equator, you will need to travel in the opposite direction to Earth's rotation at the same velocity as the rotation. The sun sets in the west, so you will have to travel eastwards at 1670 kph or 1038 mph. That way the two will balance out and the sun will appear to remain fixed in the same position in the sky. If you had a supersonic jet, this could be easily done.
The higher you go, you would need to travel faster and you would want to be high enough so you would not bump into anything! At 30000 feet or 9.144 km above the surface you need to travel at 1672 kph or 1039 mph.
2006-09-10 21:30:17 · answer #3 · answered by Mike W 2 · 1⤊ 1⤋
It depends on your latitude, but not on your altitude. At the equator, you need to fly at 1669.8 km/hr, or 1037.6 mph.
At other latitudes, you need to fly at:
cos(latitude) * equatorial speed
This formula breaks down in the arctic and antarctic regions (above 66.5 degrees, and below -66.5 degrees). Because of the earth's tilt, sometimes the sun isn't visible at all at those latitudes.
At the poles (latitude 90 degrees), you can see the sun setting continuously without moving -- but only on certain days of the year.
2006-09-11 01:53:59 · answer #4 · answered by Keith P 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No need. Just go up north or south (depending on which pole is summer) and stay there! But don't ask me if that is sun rise or sun set...
Better still, take a nice sunset photo, enlarge it and hang it on your bedroom wall.
http://home.att.net/~paul.dowling/archive/sunset.jpg
(P.S. I googled it!)
2006-09-10 21:15:10 · answer #5 · answered by Mr Bean 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Around Mach II at around 30,000 feet.
2006-09-11 08:19:42 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Mike W was ok except for direction. Go west young man (duh).
2006-09-11 14:31:10 · answer #7 · answered by SAN 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋