Is there such thing as LIVE satellite pics??

Question

If so, plz do tell because I'd like to be able to see live pics.
I have Google Earth but apprently those pics aren't updated nor live so if there's anything else different/better I'd like to know! =]

Answer 1

Weather satellite pictures are as close to live as you can get. But they don't show small details. Weather satellites are in a high, geosynchronous orbit where they can hover over one place on the ground and see about 1/3 of the Earth all at once. But from such a high altitude there is no lens or telescope powerful enough to show buildings and cars.

For detailed pictures showing buildings and cars you need to be in a very low orbit. Satellites in low orbits cannot hover over one place and they can only see a small section of the ground at a time. So the best those satellites can give you for any one place, like your home town, is one snapshot every few days.

Answer 2

Yes, there are, just not available to the common people. Those satellites that provide the pic's such as what Google Earth has are also capable of real time photography. It's just that what they see has to be checked for anything of a classified nature before the people get a chance to see the results. That said, IF, you had the capability of capturing the down link signal and demodulating it your self, then you would have what you seek. Can you, yes, you can, by FCC regulations. This is why the premium TV channels went to encryption for their up-links back when satellite TV was just beginning. What you do with that information, however, could put up in jail for a very long time as some people recently found out, the hard way.