Comment of the Day: The Mystery of the Mystery Plane, Solved

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Richard Lawson

07/23/10 04:26PM

Filed to: We read you

Today we looked at a curious mystery: how did this enormous airplane end up in Brooklyn? The mystery didn't last long, though! One commenter figured it out.

From Tattertotter:

Sorry, Chelsea—it was SUPPOSED to be a surprise, but of course the media had to blab it to the world. Much love— Mom & Dad
P.S. Honestly guys, can't you just let a mother and father give their only daughter a little something on her wedding day without ruining the goddam surprise? Shame on you, Gawker!

Sorry, Chels. :(

The following replies are approved. To see additional replies that are pending approval, click Show Pending. Warning: These may contain graphic material.

LurkinMerkin Richard Lawson 07/23/10 06:57PM

I got this from someone I know who happens to be a rocket scientist (no joke):

The color distortion is probably not from aircraft motion. The satellite camera optics are precisely adjusted to put the ground plane in focus given the satellites altitude... probably about 750 km. Since the aircraft is at 749 km from the satellite, the optics are out of focus for the airplane, thus the chromatic aberration.

The aircraft shadow on the ground should be off the left (port) wing side... probably out of the field of view of the camera optics.

There you have it.

Allow To Be Free LurkinMerkin 07/24/10 12:16AM

@LurkinMerkin: Sometimes I think I don't speak English.

Sterling LurkinMerkin 07/24/10 01:02AM

@LurkinMerkin: So, what happens on hilly or mountainous terrain such as in the Rockies where we have a lot of ground 1-4 km higher than sea level?

raincoaster LurkinMerkin 07/24/10 02:02AM

@LurkinMerkin: I'm also thinking that if you knew the actual dimensions of the particular type of plane and at least one building, you could figure out how high the satellite was.

SidAndFinancy Richard Lawson 07/23/10 05:10PM

Check out the aerial view of 77 Water St. in lower Manhattan.

xtopher1974 SidAndFinancy 07/23/10 06:35PM

@SidAndFinancy: Woah. Apparently it was built just for the amusement of surrounding buildings. More here: [www.nyc-architecture.com]

GlasgowRose Richard Lawson 07/23/10 04:30PM

Will there be another plane bearing a "Congrats, lovebirds! x Gawker" banner flying beside it? What's good for Rush...

hkreportage GlasgowRose 07/23/10 05:04PM

@GlasgowRose: actually, I think this plane was the original plane that flew over the wedding...

vitajex Richard Lawson 07/23/10 06:25PM

Pretty good, however I would recommend removing one of the first two 'T's to get an even better screen name.

growhappy vitajex 07/23/10 06:54PM

@vitajex: Attertotter? Tatertotter?