Fact-Check: "The Great Wall of China is visible from space"
What We Know
The claim that the Great Wall of China is visible from space has been a long-standing myth, often perpetuated in popular culture. However, several credible sources have debunked this notion. According to NASA, the Great Wall is not visible from the moon and is difficult or impossible to see from Earth orbit without high-powered lenses. The wall stretches over 13,000 miles (21,000 km), but its width is typically less than 6 meters (about 20 feet) (López-Gil, 2010).
China's astronaut Yang Liwei, during his space mission, stated that he could not see the Great Wall, which contradicts the popular belief that it is visible from space (López-Gil, 2010). Furthermore, the European Space Agency (ESA) once mistakenly attributed a photograph of the Great Wall to a river, further illustrating the confusion surrounding this claim (López-Gil, 2010).
The limitations of human vision are significant factors in this discussion. The human eye cannot discern objects as small as the Great Wall from the vast distance of space without extraordinary visual acuity (López-Gil, 2010). Even at an altitude of 160 km, an astronaut would need a visual acuity greater than what is physically possible to see the Wall (López-Gil, 2010).
Analysis
The evidence against the claim that the Great Wall of China is visible from space is robust and comes from multiple reliable sources. NASA, a leading authority on space and aeronautics, explicitly states that the Great Wall is not visible from the moon and is challenging to see from Earth orbit without specialized equipment (NASA). This assertion is supported by scientific analysis of human visual acuity, which indicates that the wall's narrow width makes it virtually impossible to see from such distances (López-Gil, 2010).
Moreover, the myth has been perpetuated through cultural references and anecdotal claims, but these lack scientific backing. For instance, the idea that astronauts have seen the Great Wall is largely based on misinterpretations and exaggerated reports (López-Gil, 2010). The myth's origins can be traced back to historical writings, but it has been thoroughly debunked by astronauts who have actually been in space, including Yang Liwei and Neil Armstrong, both of whom have stated that the wall is not visible from their vantage points (López-Gil, 2010, Dowson, 2023).
While some photographs may show sections of the wall under ideal conditions, these instances do not support the claim that it is generally visible from space (NASA). The consensus among scientists and space agencies is that the visibility of the Great Wall from space is a myth.
Conclusion
The claim that the Great Wall of China is visible from space is False. The evidence overwhelmingly supports the conclusion that, due to the wall's narrow width and the limitations of human vision, it cannot be seen from space without the aid of high-powered lenses. This myth has been debunked by astronauts and scientific studies, making it clear that the Great Wall, while an impressive structure, does not hold the visibility status that popular culture attributes to it.
Sources
- Is it Really Possible to See the Great Wall of China from ...
- Great Wall - NASA
- Can You See the Great Wall of China from Space?
- Fact Check: The Great Wall of China is visible from space
- Is the Great Wall of China Visible from the Moon? - Snopes
- Can you see the Great Wall of China from space?
- Can You Really See the Great Wall From Space? Busted!
- No, You Can't See the Great Wall of China from Space
