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but, but, you can see Russia from Oregon.
(to quote a famous person)
I'd rather be phishing!
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I believe she said Alaska, not Oregon. And depending on your exact location (the Bering Strait), the time of year and how clear the weather is, you actually can see Russia from Alaska. After all, the Strait is only 51 miles (82 km) wide.
#SupportHeForShe
Government can give you nothing but what it takes from somebody else. A government big enough to give you everything you want is big enough to take everything you've got, including your freedom.-Ezra Taft Benson
You must accept 1 of 2 basic premises: Either we are alone in the universe or we are not alone. Either way, the implications are staggering!-Wernher von Braun
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TheGreatAndPowerfulOzyou actually can see Russia from Alaska. After all, the Strait is only 51 miles (82 km) wide.
You see could the beach of Cape Dezhnev if you stood on top of a 530m high tower at Cape Prince of Wales (give or take a few meters, my math is a bit rusty).
Earth curvature you know.
I'm pretty sure you're thinking of Little and Big Diomede islands, but they're only 2.4 miles apart
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Jörgen Andersson wrote: 530m high tower
Wrong.
The Earth has a radius of approximately 3965 miles. Using the Pythagorean theorem, that calculates to an average curvature of approximately 8 inches per mile. So over 51 miles you would have a curvature of 8 * 51 = 408 inches = 34 feet (or about 10.4 meters). So you'd only need to be on a sizable hill or cliff at the shore to see Cape Dezhnev, from which there are plenty to choose. See this picture[^] as an example.
Nevertheless, it'd be difficult to see, without visual aids, even on a extremely clear day due to how the ocean mists muddy the air.
Jörgen Andersson wrote: I'm pretty sure you're thinking of Little and Big Diomede islands, but they're only 2.4 miles apart
I wasn't, but Sarah Palin was when she said "...you can actually see Russia from land here in Alaska, from an island in Alaska." People always misquote her by leaving off that last part. (Note: I don't think very highly of Mrs. Palin as a politician. McCain could have chosen better.) And some say those island are only 1.5 miles apart.
Hey, but don't take my word for it.
Also, read the Snopes article[^] about the phrase. Near the end of it a 1988 NY Times article is quoted indicating one can see Siberia from St. Lawrence Island, a distance of 37 miles and also from Cape Prince of Wales, an additional distance of only 14 miles.
#SupportHeForShe
Government can give you nothing but what it takes from somebody else. A government big enough to give you everything you want is big enough to take everything you've got, including your freedom.-Ezra Taft Benson
You must accept 1 of 2 basic premises: Either we are alone in the universe or we are not alone. Either way, the implications are staggering!-Wernher von Braun
modified 20-Oct-16 16:06pm.
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Your calculation is quite off. Try this[^] instead.
As I don't know anything about the topography over there, I calculated the horizon distance (and I was three meters off).
But if you assume the same size hills on both sides you'd need 430 feet high hills. Quite sizable I'd say, but certainly not impossible.
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Funny, in one way your calculator agrees with me. It says at 51 miles, there'd be 32 ft of curvature. Which is pretty close to what I posted. The diagram doesn't make sense to me, how is it that h0 != h1? Does the earth curve more after distance d1? Of course not. Nor does the diagram make sense that at seven miles out (distance d1) the eye would meet the horizon at a height of 32 ft. It would be at 25.5 miles, not seven.
However, I realize I forgot that I have to square the distance, which makes the total curve value much greater. So that means at a minimum that you'd have to be on a hill or cliff about 7.98*51*51/12/2=865 feet high. High, but impossible.
But, I believe your link is more correct. The formula I'm using is an approximation and not very accurate for long distances.
Still, the US Military says they can see Russia from Alaska. So I believe that.
#SupportHeForShe
Government can give you nothing but what it takes from somebody else. A government big enough to give you everything you want is big enough to take everything you've got, including your freedom.-Ezra Taft Benson
You must accept 1 of 2 basic premises: Either we are alone in the universe or we are not alone. Either way, the implications are staggering!-Wernher von Braun
modified 20-Oct-16 18:00pm.
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H0 is the hill on one side and h1 is the hill on the other side.
You have plenty of formulas on Horizon - Wikipedia[^]
With the interesting one here[^]
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Well, yes, I realize now that the diagram is being general, but since we're talking curvature of the earth, then d1 should be diagrammed as d1 = d0/2 and h0 = h1. But that maybe is too specific to my tastes.
In any case, my point is that Russia and Alaska are visible to each other, if only slightly and in specific locations and under specific conditions.
#SupportHeForShe
Government can give you nothing but what it takes from somebody else. A government big enough to give you everything you want is big enough to take everything you've got, including your freedom.-Ezra Taft Benson
You must accept 1 of 2 basic premises: Either we are alone in the universe or we are not alone. Either way, the implications are staggering!-Wernher von Braun
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well, not really.
You can only see about 5km at sea level because of the earth curvature (unless you are a flat-earther).
I'd rather be phishing!
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You can if you're on a hill or cliff. See my response here[^]
#SupportHeForShe
Government can give you nothing but what it takes from somebody else. A government big enough to give you everything you want is big enough to take everything you've got, including your freedom.-Ezra Taft Benson
You must accept 1 of 2 basic premises: Either we are alone in the universe or we are not alone. Either way, the implications are staggering!-Wernher von Braun
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John Simmons / outlaw programmer wrote: My wife wants to move to Oregon.
For Mary Jane? 
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Oregon is a beautiful place, infested with liberal idiots. That alone wouldn't be so bad - targets being expensive to buy these days - but unfortunately for decent citizens, they run things there.
There are many beautiful places here in the US; no need to emigrate to the Left Coast.
Will Rogers never met me.
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But, hey, weed is legal there, man.
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My wife wanted me to move somewhere else - anywhere else!
=========================================================
I'm an optoholic - my glass is always half full of vodka.
=========================================================
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Has she been watching Grimm? 
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If you put Nutella on salmon, do you get salmonella?
Bad command or file name. Bad, bad command! Sit! Stay! Staaaay...
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Definitely not. My last boss'es name was Antonella and we gave her all kinds of nicknames. Salmonella, Vampirella and even Alosaurus (spelling intentional), but anything as good as Nutella simply would not have fit.
The language is JavaScript. that of Mordor, which I will not utter here
This is Javascript. If you put big wheels and a racing stripe on a golf cart, it's still a f***ing golf cart.
"I don't know, extraterrestrial?"
"You mean like from space?"
"No, from Canada."
If software development were a circus, we would all be the clowns.
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That was nutty off the scales!
... such stuff as dreams are made on
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I thought it was a bit fishy - he seems to be spreading it pretty thick.
/ravi
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It was so funny I nearly fell to Pisces reading it.
"the debugger doesn't tell me anything because this code compiles just fine" - random QA comment
"Facebook is where you tell lies to your friends. Twitter is where you tell the truth to strangers." - chriselst
"I don't drink any more... then again, I don't drink any less." - Mike Mullikins uncle
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That must have felt orcaward!
/ravi
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I was so embarrassed I wanted to throw a Tarpon myself.
"the debugger doesn't tell me anything because this code compiles just fine" - random QA comment
"Facebook is where you tell lies to your friends. Twitter is where you tell the truth to strangers." - chriselst
"I don't drink any more... then again, I don't drink any less." - Mike Mullikins uncle
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No need to be embarrassed - if you mullet over and you'll feel much better.
/ravi
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Thanks Ravi, I'm starting to sea a ray of hope!
"the debugger doesn't tell me anything because this code compiles just fine" - random QA comment
"Facebook is where you tell lies to your friends. Twitter is where you tell the truth to strangers." - chriselst
"I don't drink any more... then again, I don't drink any less." - Mike Mullikins uncle
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