Google Earth - Bonsai from space?

zenwarrior

Can you spot any trees in your garden, nursery, backyard, etc. from outer space? I've just installed Google Earth, a brilliant software application that allows you to zoom in on locations all over the world. Thought it would be kind of fun to check out. You can get it here. All you have to do is type in your street and city.You can zoom in from there. Enjoy!

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Ian_Homer

Hi Zen,

Yes, it is a fantastic program, and one that will surely get better in detail as the years go on.

I can certainly see recognisable details of some large conifers on our boundaries. A relatives garden is even clearer, mainly since it was a low sun when the photograph was taken. There because of the shadows, you can clearly pick out the trees across her lawn.

Because the photographs are "tiled" and probably taken by different satellites, some areas are a lot clearer than others. All the major points of interest that google list seem to be a higher resolution. Dip down into the Grand Canyon or look at a major city.

A close look at Google's headquarters, shows that their shot must have been taken on a Sunday ! - well I can not see many cars - or are they all working from home and that building was a tax loss ?

Be some time before we can see the overhead views of our Bonsai trees !

Regards,
Ian.

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TreeBay

Photo #32058 Click to Enlarge

In my own yard I couldn't see anything bonsai related - the 150 foot redwood tree is just an amorphous cone shape and the cars are unrecognizable. Google actually put the target on my neighbor's property, it was so far off.

Photo #32057 Click to Enlarge

When I punched in the local bonsai nursery (55 miles away), the detail is at least 10 times better.

You can make out larger bonsai on the benches in the back of the property. The distinguishable trees are about 3 feet tall.

Photo #32056 Click to Enlarge

The last shot is GSBF-North Collection at Lakeside Park in Oakland, CA. You can make out the irregular blue tile fence around the perimeter, and some walkways and structures, and a couple of tree blobs on some of the benches scattered throughout.

I wonder if this difference in detail has anything to do with the source of these data - which is probably DOD information? There are some massive airports in the vicinity of the last two

I tried to find the Japanese "Bonsai City" called Omiya Ko-en on the outskirts of Tokyo, but Google Earth could not even resolve a single structure in Omiya proper, so I didn't bother looking further. It just looks like a mosaic of greens and greys.


BTW - I feel comfortable posting these last 2 images as both are commercial & publicly accessible locations and that are known to house bonsai. We should certainly not post other folks' private collections, but if you want to post your own, please go for it!




Regards,

Matt

Attached Images

	gsbf_north.jpg (44.1 KB, 109 views)
	groveway_air.jpg (26.9 KB, 128 views)
	matt_air.jpg (16.0 KB, 99 views)

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Kazuki

hey matt,

what bonsai nursery is that in the second picture?

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TreeBay

The one without the chains!

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Genesis

yeah I can't even see my house on here I can bearly see my town but its because they don't shoot the photos in rural areas as detailed. But me and my teacher found his car in Austin sitting in a parking lot when he was going to college.

pootsie

WOW WOW WOW OMG OMG OMG OMG
THAT IS SO COOOOOL

I saw the glories of the Wuggums-En Bonsai Garden from SPACE!

It wasn't much to look at ...

pootsie

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Joanie

Can you see that ficus from space, Pootsie? Maybe an advanced alien civilization is studying your methods for their Betelgeuse Bonsai Society's next demo, trunk fusing by Palter Wall.

Joanie

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ozzerbon

A fun toy for children, otherwise useless, dunno if the fully paid up programme is any better, but you [I] can get a fair to middling overview of my home town in Australia. just another time waster if you asks me.

Yes indeed where have all the cars gone?

Enjoy.
Grumpy old man, otherwise known by some as....Nigel

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