How far away can you hear or see things?
Discussion
Prompted by this thread:
https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...
The subject of sound and or light at distance has always fascinated me. Forgetting big stuff like stars etc, what's the longest distance you've heard or seen something at?
For example. I live in a city, at the mouth of a river by the sea - Tynemouth. Even at night there is a lot of background noise from stuff like the sea.
I regularly hear a fog horn that is about 8 miles from me. A few years ago there was a fireworks display at the Tyne Bridge 7-odd miles from me that I could clearly hear. Otterburn Camp - a military training area - is according to Google maps - 34 miles distant. I've heard artillery from there during the day. I actually checked this with a friend who lives near Otterburn enjoy said the guns were firing.
In terms of seeing things, despite light pollution I used to be able to see the search lights at the Stadium of Light - 8 miles away and I could make out the red Sunderland Echo sign on their building about 9 miles away.
I know the WW1 guns could be heard in Kent and that the Buncefield explosion could be heard 22 miles away in Downing Street.
I guess there are all sorts of factors, weather, time of day, geography.
What can you hear or see that's a fair distance away?
https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...
The subject of sound and or light at distance has always fascinated me. Forgetting big stuff like stars etc, what's the longest distance you've heard or seen something at?
For example. I live in a city, at the mouth of a river by the sea - Tynemouth. Even at night there is a lot of background noise from stuff like the sea.
I regularly hear a fog horn that is about 8 miles from me. A few years ago there was a fireworks display at the Tyne Bridge 7-odd miles from me that I could clearly hear. Otterburn Camp - a military training area - is according to Google maps - 34 miles distant. I've heard artillery from there during the day. I actually checked this with a friend who lives near Otterburn enjoy said the guns were firing.
In terms of seeing things, despite light pollution I used to be able to see the search lights at the Stadium of Light - 8 miles away and I could make out the red Sunderland Echo sign on their building about 9 miles away.
I know the WW1 guns could be heard in Kent and that the Buncefield explosion could be heard 22 miles away in Downing Street.
I guess there are all sorts of factors, weather, time of day, geography.
What can you hear or see that's a fair distance away?
Edited by Wildcat45 on Thursday 5th April 08:18
OP.. a foghorn and stadium of light both 8 miles away. Are they in the same area?
I bet the people that live there look like zombies.
When I was a kid I lived about three miles away from Crystal Palace park, where they the used to have a race track. Could hear the cars quite clearly. Non of this noise pollution nonsense in those days.
I bet the people that live there look like zombies.
When I was a kid I lived about three miles away from Crystal Palace park, where they the used to have a race track. Could hear the cars quite clearly. Non of this noise pollution nonsense in those days.
During World War 2, my mother, who lived in Dublin, could hear the sound of bombs and anti-aircraft fire during the Blitz on Liverpool.
I don't know what the OP means by "stars and stuff etc...". Is he excluding closer objects like planets, the moon and the sun? Or even much closer objects such as the International Space Station - which is around 300 miles above our heads when it passes across the sky and is extremely visible?
During the 1950s, the Royal Aircraft Establishment conducted trials to find out what was the maximum distance an individual aircraft could still be visible to the naked eye. They used a high flying Canberra and an observer on top of a mountain in Turkey. The answer was well over 100 miles, even with no contrail. How do I know this - I used to know the chap who conducted the experiments.
I don't know what the OP means by "stars and stuff etc...". Is he excluding closer objects like planets, the moon and the sun? Or even much closer objects such as the International Space Station - which is around 300 miles above our heads when it passes across the sky and is extremely visible?
During the 1950s, the Royal Aircraft Establishment conducted trials to find out what was the maximum distance an individual aircraft could still be visible to the naked eye. They used a high flying Canberra and an observer on top of a mountain in Turkey. The answer was well over 100 miles, even with no contrail. How do I know this - I used to know the chap who conducted the experiments.
Eric Mc said:
During World War 2, my mother, who lived in Dublin, could hear the sound of bombs and anti-aircraft fire during the Blitz on Liverpool.
I don't know what the OP means by "stars and stuff etc...". Is he excluding closer objects like planets, the moon and the sun? Or even much closer objects such as the International Space Station - which is around 300 miles above our heads when it passes across the sky and is extremely visible?
During the 1950s, the Royal Aircraft Establishment conducted trials to find out what was the maximum distance an individual aircraft could still be visible to the naked eye. They used a high flying Canberra and an observer on top of a mountain in Turkey. The answer was well over 100 miles, even with no contrail. How do I know this - I used to know the chap who conducted the experiments.
20/20 vision is equivalent to detecting one arc minute (1/60th of a degree). Most people who don't need glasses or are wearing the correct glasses can do better than this, maybe 20/15. if young even 20/10. IE can see things a 20/20 person could only see at half that distance. I don't know what the OP means by "stars and stuff etc...". Is he excluding closer objects like planets, the moon and the sun? Or even much closer objects such as the International Space Station - which is around 300 miles above our heads when it passes across the sky and is extremely visible?
During the 1950s, the Royal Aircraft Establishment conducted trials to find out what was the maximum distance an individual aircraft could still be visible to the naked eye. They used a high flying Canberra and an observer on top of a mountain in Turkey. The answer was well over 100 miles, even with no contrail. How do I know this - I used to know the chap who conducted the experiments.
Over 100 miles for a 65ft long Canberra sounds good going though. Works out as about 20/8 by my calculations.
Gary29 said:
The sun is ~93 million miles away, sometimes I can see that. Not seen it for a long time now though.
I live in North Wales, up on a hill near me, on a clear day, you can just about make out Blackpool tower, 45 miles.
Interesting fact.I live in North Wales, up on a hill near me, on a clear day, you can just about make out Blackpool tower, 45 miles.
Because the speed of light is 168,282 miles per second and the sun is roughly 93 million miles away, you are not seeing it now but as it was eight minutes previously.
Regarding noise, the pop group Keane were playing an outdoor concert at Dalby Forest in Yorkshire on a balmy clear summers night several years ago, and I could make out all the songs when we were staying on a caravan club site eight miles away.
Sitting atop Pilsdon Pen in Dorset at around 900 ft some years ago in the Summer on a particularity quiet evening.
The now defunct Rose & Crown pub was about two miles away and fairly visible. We could hear the door squeaking as a couple exited to the car park, footsteps, conversation and the sound of a Cortina door opening and closing.
Currently, living high up in the valley we can identify the type of regular helicopter visitors by sound only anything up to a couple of minutes before they arrive.
I struggle in Cities though.
The now defunct Rose & Crown pub was about two miles away and fairly visible. We could hear the door squeaking as a couple exited to the car park, footsteps, conversation and the sound of a Cortina door opening and closing.
Currently, living high up in the valley we can identify the type of regular helicopter visitors by sound only anything up to a couple of minutes before they arrive.
I struggle in Cities though.
These are the sorts of things m talking about. Hearing concerts miles away and the Canberra story and the Liverpool blitz.
When I excluded stars and stuff, I meant things in space. Clearly they are huge distances. I really meant things confined to the atmosphere. I find that stuff fascinating however.
Just to add to this, I was told by a guy in the RN once about them detecting a ship in UK waters when they were off the USA or Canada (Atlantic side obviously.) Apparently the vessel was a warship with a unique signature because of a damaged prop so they knew exactly which ship it was. I think the detector was a passive sonar in a sub.
When I excluded stars and stuff, I meant things in space. Clearly they are huge distances. I really meant things confined to the atmosphere. I find that stuff fascinating however.
Just to add to this, I was told by a guy in the RN once about them detecting a ship in UK waters when they were off the USA or Canada (Atlantic side obviously.) Apparently the vessel was a warship with a unique signature because of a damaged prop so they knew exactly which ship it was. I think the detector was a passive sonar in a sub.
Edited by Wildcat45 on Thursday 5th April 11:03
Tell me when you see or hear the aeroplane!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4iOoiEbtf2w
(Caution - loud aircraft noises and expletives)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4iOoiEbtf2w
(Caution - loud aircraft noises and expletives)
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