I'm watching the film Enemy of the State and the bad guys are using satellites to track the good guys as they move around on the ground. Can satellites see the ground when the sky is cloudy? Are there really enough satellites in orbit to allow instantaneous surveilence of anywhere in the world?
2006-12-13 08:52:32 · 11 answers · asked by CTU 3 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Astronomy & Space
No, the clouds do block satellite's vision, and I'm not so sure they have satellite's that can show video like in enemy of state, since one picture takes so long to take. They have to use really low speed film to get a high enough quality picture to be able to see such detail. And as for your last question, one satellite can see almost half the earth, so it really doesn't take that many to see anywhere in the world at any time.
2006-12-13 08:59:00 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Clouds obstruct regular satellites vision. The satellites are to far way from Earth to have instantaneous video surveillance- it would take too long and the satellite can only see things it passes over in its orbit. But, there are enough satellites to take a picture of anything within a few hours.
2006-12-13 17:26:32 · answer #2 · answered by spens 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No and no. Satellites cannot see through clouds and there is not continuous coverage of the whole world. You have to wait for the satellite to pass over the target in its orbit to take the picture. And infrared light does not pass through clouds. There are some methods to get some pictures through clouds, but they do not use infrared light and the images are never that clear. X-rays might do the trick, but not infrared light.
2006-12-13 17:05:01 · answer #3 · answered by campbelp2002 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Some can, and they're very much Top Secret. And yes, there are enough artificial satellites in orbit now that just about any area of interest can be checked out within hours. Better behave yourself - Big Brother is watching!
2006-12-13 17:01:45 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
There is a ring of satellites circling the earth but only the CIA ones using infra red technology can see through the clouds.
2006-12-13 16:57:12 · answer #5 · answered by tucksie 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Its a movie. Not ment to be real. But no they cant see though clouds. And there are more than 350,000 satillites orbiting the earth at the moment. Space is our junk site. Explains where the labour party is going. lmao
2006-12-14 05:59:30 · answer #6 · answered by Time is nigh 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
i am pretty sure that anybody any where can be watched if needed.... they tell you that it is not possible... but if it was do you think the cia would let you know?
have you see how close in google earth can zoom.... I'm sure they can go in a LOT closer than that if they needed to.
they could probably look through my window and see what i am typing now.....
2006-12-13 17:03:11 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
depends on what you mean by see,,,,
a sophisticated sanyo video camera style thingy
as some have said, no,
infra red thermal imaging etc maybe
but what do we know about what 'they' have,,
diffuse wide angled laser technology?
elctromagnetic detectors?
brain wave emission collectors?
as for enough up there,
what with the US, Chinese, Japanese, Euro, Russia throwing things up there,,
see that blade of grass,,,,,,,,
watch that space,,,,
2006-12-13 18:49:09 · answer #8 · answered by farshadowman 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
no sattleites cant see through clouds, just check google earth, but if tehy had like an infared or heat sensing thing they would be able to see through clouds
2006-12-13 17:00:08 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
They don't "see" It is radio wave. Answer to question yes
2006-12-13 17:00:22 · answer #10 · answered by Uchihaitachi345 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋