The Great Wall

Is the Great Wall of China visible from space? Let’s hear it from someone who should know: Neil Armstrong. This is what he said: "On Apollo 11 I do not believe that, at least with my eyes, there would be any man-made object that I could see. I have not yet found somebody who has told me they've seen the Wall of China from Earth orbit. ... I've asked various people, particularly Shuttle guys, that have been many orbits around China in the daytime, and the ones I've talked to didn't see it."

No, to the best of my knowledge the Great Wall of China is not visible from space with an unaided eye. For various reasons many believe this myth which was started before man ventured out to space. Maybe believing in some long-held myths are comforting to some. Think it through carefully. The Great Wall is long, about three to four thousand miles long; and this simple fact is subject to debate. It depends on what you count and how you count. It varies in width in different segments; but very roughly the width of a two-lane highway. It is not particularly high; it varies but maybe about 25 feet high. So, why are our interstate highways not visible from space if the Great Wall is?

Enjoy these images of the Great Wall from different sections outside of Beijing. A friend, a cousin, and my son contributed one picture each.