Spaceship Earth not "centered" ?

[retroeric]

I was having some fun with google satellite maps, and I located Epcot and noticed "the ball" was a little off center. Of course, it's almost impossible to notice this when you're there in person, but from a bird's eye view it is pretty clear.

Spaceship earth (drag the slider to zoom in)

 

[MommytoMJM]

Roflmmeo!

 

[Robfasto]

It is the angle that the picture was taken from... Try looking at the hotels around Downtown Disney you get the same effect...

 

[peter11435]

I was having some fun with google satellite maps, and I located Epcot and noticed "the ball" was a little off center. Of course, it's almost impossible to notice this when you're there in person, but from a bird's eye view it is pretty clear.

Spaceship earth (drag the slider to zoom in)

The ball is not off center, the picture is taken at an angel and thus it looks that way. But trust me SSE is perfectly centered.

 

[DznyRktekt]

I agree that the photo was taken at an angle. Look at Energy for instance. You can see the colors on the side closest to Wonders of Life.

 

[retroeric]

The ball is not off center, the picture is taken at an angel and thus it looks that way. But trust me SSE is perfectly centered.

That seems like a reasonable explanation, and you're probably right, but the monorail loop and its relationship with the buildings inside (innoventions, mousegear? etc) make it look like this picture is dead straight on centered. I guess it's an illusion.

 

[UltimtMickeyFan]

The Sat pic looks to be almost dead center over the ball and th park. If you look at SSE compared to the monorail track wrapped around it and the building coming out the bottom of it, it sure does appear to look off center.

 

[ThreeCircles]

What are all of those small buildings along the roads weaving in and out of the wooded area above EPCOT?

 

[DisneyChik17]

Great pic! I took the monorail to the TTC then to MK. Had a great time, and did some momorail resort hopping. Great fun! LOL! It was my first trip by myself, I was scared at first but it turned out great.

 

[MrNonacho]

What are all of those small buildings along the roads weaving in and out of the wooded area above EPCOT?

Fort Wilderness, I think.

 

[peter11435]

The Sat pic looks to be almost dead center over the ball and th park. If you look at SSE compared to the monorail track wrapped around it and the building coming out the bottom of it, it sure does appear to look off center.

The picture is at an angle, as someone else pointed out this is why you can see the colored walls on the right side of UoE but not the left. The reason other buildings and the monorail don't look off center is because they are much closer to ground level than SSE.

 

[Rayray]

I think that the sun's position on SSE is also making somewhat of an optical illusion. Part of the ball has no sun on it because of the sperical shape. That and the camera angle seem to be the cause (or am I just crazy?)

 

[joel_maxwell]

yep, i noticed that to and at first glance that does seem to be the case, but it is the sun and the shadows and angles.

 

[wild01ride]

I think that what we are noticing is the effect of the paralax of the aerial imagery. Aerial images are taken so that each one has a slightly different angle (as the plane, satellite, etc.) is moving. When viewed together, it gives the impression of a relief map, so that you can understand relative height of the objects on the ground. This relief is slightly exaggerated and because of this phenomenon, SE is distorted more (and hence, looks "tilted" or off-center) because it is substantially taller then the other surrounding buildings.
Basically, the posts above were correct about the angle. I just added to nerdy big word! LOL! :drevil:

 

[Tim G]

and noticed "the ball" was a little off center.

Like most of the forum members are!!!

 

[Lynx04]

It is not centered!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I guess they will have to tear it down and rebuild it then.

 

[WDWCP]

I love nerdy big words!

I think that what we are noticing is the effect of the paralax of the aerial imagery. Aerial images are taken so that each one has a slightly different angle (as the plane, satellite, etc.) is moving. When viewed together, it gives the impression of a relief map, so that you can understand relative height of the objects on the ground. This relief is slightly exaggerated and because of this phenomenon, SE is distorted more (and hence, looks "tilted" or off-center) because it is substantially taller then the other surrounding buildings.
Basically, the posts above were correct about the angle. I just added to nerdy big word! LOL! :drevil:

 

[wannab@dis]

Like most of the forum members are!!!

I think you're on the mark. :lol:

:wave: Corrus!

 

[UltimtMickeyFan]

It is not centered!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I guess they will have to tear it down and rebuild it then.

Starting with, and ONLY the wand!!!

 

[righttrack]

These satellite pictures are typically very flat. They are enhanced with 3D effect, and thats probably why it looks the way it does.