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Line 20: − The Great Wall is not the only [[human|man-made]] structure visible from space, or the [[moon]]. This claim was popularized by a May 1932 ''Ripley's Believe it or not'' cartoon which stated that the wall is "the mightiest work of man, the only one that would be visible to the human eye from the moon." The claim also appears in Richard Halliburton's ''Second Book of Marvels'' (1938).<ref name=Hvistendahl>Hvistendahl, Mara, [http://www.sciam.com/article.cfm?id=is-chinas-great-wall-visible-from-space Is China's Great Wall Visible from Space? Though it stretches for some 4,500 miles, the ancient Chinese fortification is not as visible from orbit as modern desert roads]", ''Scientific American'', February 21, 2008.</ref>+ + + Line 33:
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→Visibility from space
==Visibility from space==
==Visibility from space==
It is often claim that the Great Wall is the only [[human|man-made]] structure visible from space, or the [[moon]]. This claim is not based on any astronaut's account, but rather on speculation that was already entrenched in popular imagination in the pre-space era. In the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, it was erroneously believed that there were channels or canals on Mars that were visible from Earth through a telescope. Many people concluded that similar structures on Earth must be visible from space.
A ''Ripley's Believe it or Not'' cartoon first published in May 1932 states that the wall is "the mightiest work of man, the only one that would be visible to the human eye from the moon." This cartoon was republished many times in numerous newspapers. The claim also appears in Richard Halliburton's ''Second Book of Marvels'' (1938).<ref name=Hvistendahl>Hvistendahl, Mara, [http://www.sciam.com/article.cfm?id=is-chinas-great-wall-visible-from-space Is China's Great Wall Visible from Space? Though it stretches for some 4,500 miles, the ancient Chinese fortification is not as visible from orbit as modern desert roads]", ''Scientific American'', February 21, 2008.</ref>
It has been disputed whether it is even visible from low earth orbit. A 2008 article in Scientific American stated: "The unglamorous truth is that the wall is only visible from low orbit under a specific set of weather and lighting conditions. And many other structures that are less spectacular from an earthly vantage point—desert roads, for example—appear more prominent from an orbital perspective."<ref name="Hvistendahl" />
It has been disputed whether it is even visible from low earth orbit. A 2008 article in Scientific American stated: "The unglamorous truth is that the wall is only visible from low orbit under a specific set of weather and lighting conditions. And many other structures that are less spectacular from an earthly vantage point—desert roads, for example—appear more prominent from an orbital perspective."<ref name="Hvistendahl" />
As to whether the Wall can be seen from space, Apollo 12 astronaut Alan Bean says, "The only thing you can see from the Moon is a beautiful sphere, mostly white, some blue and patches of yellow, and every once in a while some green vegetation. No man-made object is visible at this scale." <ref>[http://www.nasa.gov/vision/space/workinginspace/great_wall.html NASA, ''China's Wall Less Great in View from Space'', 05.09.05 ]</ref>
As to whether the Wall can be seen from space, Apollo 12 astronaut Alan Bean says, "The only thing you can see from the Moon is a beautiful sphere, mostly white, some blue and patches of yellow, and every once in a while some green vegetation. No man-made object is visible at this scale." <ref>[http://www.nasa.gov/vision/space/workinginspace/great_wall.html NASA, ''China's Wall Less Great in View from Space'', 05.09.05 ]</ref>
[[Image:Wall China.gif|left]]
According to [[NASA]] director [[Adnan Lulla]], "A lot has been said and written about how visible the wall is. In fact, it is very, very difficult to distinguish the Great Wall of China in astronaut photography, because the materials that were used in the wall are similar in color and texture to the materials of the land surrounding the wall -- the dirt." <ref>http://www.nasa.gov/vision/space/workinginspace/great_wall.html</ref>
According to [[NASA]] director [[Adnan Lulla]], "A lot has been said and written about how visible the wall is. In fact, it is very, very difficult to distinguish the Great Wall of China in astronaut photography, because the materials that were used in the wall are similar in color and texture to the materials of the land surrounding the wall -- the dirt." <ref>http://www.nasa.gov/vision/space/workinginspace/great_wall.html</ref>
The Great Wall was listed as [[World Heritage]] by the [[UN]] in [[1987]].<ref>http://www.thegreatwall.com.cn/en </ref> Although long sections of the wall are now in ruins or have disappeared, it is still one of the more remarkable structures on earth and China's best-known monument.
The Great Wall was listed as [[World Heritage]] by the [[UN]] in [[1987]].<ref>http://www.thegreatwall.com.cn/en </ref> Although long sections of the wall are now in ruins or have disappeared, it is still one of the more remarkable structures on earth and China's best-known monument.
== References ==
== References ==