2007-08-24 08:41:53 · 9 answers · asked by Anonymous in Politics & Government ➔ Military
No. Nor even the matchbook. They CAN see a bunch of guys standing around who MIGHT be smoking but you can't positively identify who they are. And you can only do that if atmospheric conditions cooperate and your satellite just happens to be passing over that spot at precisely the right moment. Anything you've seen on TV or in the movies concerning satellite imagery is fiction.
2007-08-24 10:12:35 · answer #1 · answered by gunplumber_462 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
As of the year 1999 - the best satellite imagery could get is about a 3 foot resolution (according to the military). Meaning anything smaller then three feet in size would be indistinguishable from the background. So a car, for example, would be clearly visible - even the make/model could be made out. Liscence plates would just appear to be a small blob - visible but not clear enough to be read.
What is being used now electro-optically is probably a bit better... other types of imaging are being improved on as well such as synthetic aperture radar imaging.
2007-08-24 16:21:59 · answer #2 · answered by Patriotic Libertarian 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Nope. That's the sort of thing that you only see in the movies, where a satellite photo is magnified hundreds of times without losing quality or resolution. In real life, this is not so.
2007-08-24 16:02:17 · answer #3 · answered by Botsakis G 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I wouldn't say SPY satellites, but yes, the US has technology that can zoom in and read/see info that is as small as a postage stamp- by now probably even smaller. I have personally seen it!
2007-08-24 16:20:30 · answer #4 · answered by elk571 3 · 0⤊ 2⤋
You don't say! The American pilots in Afghanistan cannot see the difference between British soldiers and Taliban.
2007-08-24 16:27:48 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
If it is, Im sure its classified. The best I have heard of publicly is seeing the spots on a soccerball.
2007-08-24 15:48:33 · answer #6 · answered by mnbvcxz52773 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
not quit, but they can see license plate numbers and guys peeing in the snow outside of their missile silos in China....
2007-08-24 20:56:08 · answer #7 · answered by Its not me Its u 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No, but they can read your car number plate, thats a fact
2007-08-24 16:08:02 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
I wouldn't see why not.....
2007-08-24 16:13:38 · answer #9 · answered by whatever_t1 2 · 0⤊ 2⤋