Why does the shadow of Skylab appear so large in this video?

  • Thread starter Thread starter 2milehi
  • Start date Start date
  • Tags Tags
    Earth Shadow
Join the discussion
Registration is free. Start your own thread to ask a follow-up.
3 replies · 2K views
2milehi
Messages
146
Reaction score
20
Please ignore the UFO reference and watch for 5 seconds in the below link. One can see the shadow of Skylab on the Earth. Skylab is in a 235 mile orbit above the surface of the Earth. Clouds are about 5 miles above the surface of the Earth. So the camera capturing the images is at least 230 miles from the shadow. Why is the shadow so large?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=1p6uMMvM9ow#t=114s
 
Earth sciences news on Phys.org
Camera artifacts? Please explain how that relates to the "shadow" image on the left side of the video.
 
OK, I see it now - some schmaltz on the camera lens. More light from bright clouds drowns it out. Less light from the dark blue oceans make it more visible.