Tuesday, January 31, 2012

Can google maps be wrong about what direction north is?

Google earth shows that my house is facing south, but my father says that can't be true.Can google maps be wrong about what direction north is?
Well, the Google Earth images are compiled from satellite and aerial images which are then stitched together. Let's say they made a mistake and your house was rotated 45 degrees, then everything else in that image would be rotated 45 degrees - other buildings would be shown in the wrong places, roads would run in the wrong directions and not join up where they should. All in all, I'd say it is unlikely.



There is one very easy way to find out - if the sun is shining directly on the front of your house at noon then your house faces south.Can google maps be wrong about what direction north is?
As you move and zoom in with Google maps, sometimes the orientation changes. Check the north arrow with respect to your local location. I really doubt that Google has the cardinal directions in error.Can google maps be wrong about what direction north is?
Maybe if you lived at the North Pole, your father could be right. Is his name "Santa"?
  • mario badescu
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