Index of NASA Photos 1950-2005 (Large Photos)

NASA ^ | 1/2/2003 | NASA

[Dallas59]

Cape Canaveral 1950

[Ahithophel]

Nice picture. Just wondering: where’s the shadow of the flag and flagstick?

[Mmogamer]

It’s been said NASA was at it’s best when the Germans ran it...

[anymouse]

Space ping.

[fr_freak]

Nice picture. Just wondering: where’s the shadow of the flag and flagstick?

Funny you should ask that. I remember a Mythbusters episode a while back that went over this very kind of thing. They demonstrated how the uneven ground, given a point light source (the sun) can cause a number of optical illusions with regard to the shadows, especially when the ground appears flat in the picture. If we use the picture I posted as an example, a small bump in the ground by the astronaut's feet, from the vantage point of the photographer, would appear as flat ground because the photographer can't see the depression behind it, although the depression could contain the shadow of something like the flag pole. Or something like that.

With regards to this picture, I'd say the shadow of the flag pole is to the right of the pole, but has the appearance of going to the 2 o'clock position rather than the 3 o'clock position of the astronaut's shadow.

[Ahithophel]

Velly Intelesting..that’s good to know.

[Calvin Locke]

Well, the US space agency’s problems included Eisenhower, Mondale, Proxmire, &c.

[6SJ7]

Sort of an early "Iron Man" thing going on with the circular disk over the astronaut's chest.

[Lees Swrd]

Its there just going the wrong direction look to the left

[dfwgator]

No pics from the Old Negro Space Program?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T6xJzAYYrX8

[radioone]

It’s a shame, today. The History Channel has an hour or 2 special on what has come out of the Space Program. Since the muzzies are stuck in the 11th century, I don’t expect much in the future.

[rsobin]

Why is the astronauts shadow cast to the left and the flags to the right?

[Mr. Jazzy]

Actually, the circular thing on Gus’s chest is a mirror. A camera inside the capsule would be focused on the mirror that would reflect images of the exterior of the capsule through the view port window.

[fr_freak]

Why is the astronauts shadow cast to the left and the flags to the right?

All the shadows are to the right. What you see to the left of the flag pole is probably the shadow of something out of frame on the left side.

[hifidelity]

Sigh...I wish I could go back in time.

[SunkenCiv]

Thanks Dallas59. Loved the shot of LBJ with Spiro:

http://littleimg.com/pfiles/4287/KSC-69PC-0379.jpg