A popular myth, perpetuated even in China, is that the Great Wall is the only man-made structure that can be seen from outer space or, some will say, seen from the moon [“Red-Handed,” Letters, September]. For an object to be visible from a distance, it needs both size and visual contrast with its surroundings. The Great Wall has neither. As for size, at the most it is only twenty-five feet wide; many four- or six-lane highways are far wider. As for visual contrast, the wall is made of mostly gray stone surrounded by gray rock and brownish vegetation. Many highways are whitish concrete passing through green farm fields and no one claims to see them from space. If there was a man-made structure visible from a great distance, it would more likely be something like the space shuttle assembly building in Florida, the Superdome or the Metrodome, or even a large airport. While I’m at it, my bet is that reader Sam Woelm is a better Photoshop artist than traveler. I’ll take his T-shirt.
Tom Peterson
Edina
A number of readers wrote to correct us on the Great Wall paradox. Science tells us that many man-made objects are visible from outer space, while none can be seen from the surface of the moon. And we think Peterson is onto something with the Photoshop conspiracy theory, too. That photo is looking more fake every time we look at it! But we’d still send Mr. Woelm a T-shirt for his industriousness.—Editors
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