Peace Sign visible from space

[golgotha-a-go-go]

Peace Brothers and Sisters,

We want to make a Peace Sign that will be visible from space on the top of our shade structure. As you all may know, and probably saw, the 06 BM Satellite image was pretty detailed. Our camp was the largest visible structure on our block. I assume another shot will be taken in 07.

http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&q ... 4&t=k&om=1

Can anyone suggest an efficient method of making a visible Peace Sign that will rest atop our shade structure that is approximately 40'x40'. Cover consists of those thick silver tarps streched over aluminum carports.

Paint the tarps? Sew colored sheets together? Colored masking tape? Any ideas?

Needs to be visible, fairly easy to construct, non-peeling (if painted) and resilient to fend off the winds. Is this an oxymoron?

Golgotha-a-go-go

[sputnik]

Last year I created a large North arrow that did not point North. You can see it here:

http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&q=gerlach,+nv&ie=UTF8&t=k&om=1&ll=40.76924,-119.211686&spn=0.003376,0.006357&z=18

This was created by attaching fabric to strings that were strung between stakes in the ground. I simply stapled the fabric to the strings. It worked well. The N was made from 44 inch wide black broadcloth. The colored squares in the arrow are each 1 yard square. You can see that the resolution is pretty good. The arrow is about 20 yards long from tip to end, so you can see that this should work for the size you are talking about.

Do not use paint on the fabric, unless you are using fabric paint. Regular latex paint will flake off. If possible buy black fabric in bulk like I did and sew it onto the shade.

[Teo del Fuego]

Last year I created a large North arrow that did not point North.

See, I wish I had thought of that. That is exactly the type of stuff that caused this camping trip in the desert to take hold of my imagination so. Well done!

[Ron]

Visible by day or by night or both? Is power available?

Ron

[golgotha-a-go-go]

Day only

[golgotha-a-go-go]

Day only

[plowman]

Retro - Reflective tape.

[Rocket75377]

Retroer - Duct tape.

[Ron]

Ok, then, I'd probably suggest going with black cloth of some kind (muslin, shade cloth, whatever. Maybe even black plastic bags cut into strips) and then afix it to the tarps. If you go with plastic you could probably glue the plastic to your roof tarps pretty easily. It would mean having to assemble the roof in a certain order/relation but that's no big deal. As long as your strips are wide enough, say three or four feet, you should have a peace sign visible from space, seems to me...

Ron

[plowman]

You can also get reflective paint at any hardware store

[Dork]

Last year I created a large North arrow that did not point North. You can see it here:

You, sir, rock. I chuckle every time I look at the satellite picture of BRC and see the arrow. A couple people I showed the images to noticed the arrow and commented that it was weird Google tilted the picture like that.

Anyone have word on whether they're going to take a picture during the event again? What was the deal last year?

[pbmaniac2000]

Its a great idea. I still laugh every time i see that arrow pointing "north." I think you have some very good advice in here so far. I would go with that. I however think you should reconsider what you are using for a design. I'm not trying to be a downer, but a peace sign is soooooooooooo boring and over used. I would love to see something with a bit more imagination. Just my 2 cents

[sputnik]

Dork, my guess is that there will be a photo taken again this year. The owners of google go to the event and they paid to have a shot done the past couple of years. Also consider that the org has a deal going with the google folks for their Google Earth view of the event.

[golgotha-a-go-go]

Thanks for all the advice and tips.

We're open to another symbol. I know, the peace sign is overdone and boring, but, easily recognizable, and given the 40th anniversary of the Summer of Love and all that...


So far, here's what is surfacing as the easiest method:

sewing together 7 flat white king sheets, tracing out the symbol and paint-rolling some very visible dye on the 3 foot wide symbol.

now, questions: what kind of dye? will it bleed much? will it be visible? will the wind tear the sewn sheets even though they will be attached to the top of our structure? Best way to attach corners and middles without tearing?

Stiil open to other ideas.

Anyone know the day of the shot?

Golgotha-a-go-go

[sonoma9249]

Hey very cool idea indeed and I say stick with the peace symbol. My idea is simple BLACK CLOTH it contrasts very well with the bright white of the playa and you saw the pic of the " N Arrow" it just works great and I would not paint or dye or use any kind of tape, simply put BLACK CLOTH maybe bed sheets or some equivelant....Have a good burn

[chiefdanfox]

Why not find out from the google folks (or their sat photo vendor...) on what day and what pass the satellite will take the picture, and get people to make the peace sign by laying down on the playa? If you got about 200 people, and made the "bars" three folks wide, I think you'd have a sign 60'-70' in diameter.

[golgotha-a-go-go]

Chief Dan,

Thanks for corroborating one of my original ideas. Thought it too impractical to assemble 200 people at a given time on the Playa. You know how it goes, that Playa Time... But you've re-inspired me to maybe try this format. The fabric and dye thing is getting expensive and time consuming. So, is the 200 person figure accurate for that size sign? I could have the sign pre-drawn or marked off in anticipation of 200+ folks showing up. Thoughts? More inspiration? I'll put the call out if I can verify the time of the satellite fly-by.

[chiefdanfox]

The ephemeris for the satellite should be available at "Heavens Above", but you would want to get the update as close to the fly over date as possible, just for accuracy's sake.

I'll look into getting the satellite data and identity. I don't know if it is actually possible, meaning I don't know if anyone will release that identity data (i.e. which digibird satellite, etc.)

This can be done, but getting your hands on the person who knows which satellite will actually take the picture may take a little work.

[chiefdanfox]

So it looks like it will be Quickbird 2 doing the scanning. Based on the most recent element set, it looks like Wednesday from 11:53 AM to 12:04 PM, or Friday from 12:14 PM to 12:25 PM, will have the best zenith. this will change slightly, but not significantly. I'll run a set on Tuesday around 11:00 AM, and bring the data. So if you are still thinking about this, you need to remember that the satellite takes about 11 minutes from horizon to horizon, so folks will need to lay out there for about 10-12 minutes only. Bring a bullhorn.

Personally, I vote for Friday, since the zenith will be 10 degrees higher. The picture last year was taken no earlier than Thursday, since my camp is present and fully set up, and that was not until Thursday.

Satellite #26953 : QUICKBIRD 2
Element Set Number: 725 (Orbit 32812)
Element Set Epoch : 21Aug07 04:52:44.077 UTC (0.5 days ago)
Orbit Geometry : 441.91 km x 444.83 km at 97.206 deg
Propagation Model : SGP4
Ground Location : Lat/Long 40.769167N 119.220000W
Time is shown in : PDT (-7.00 h)

OVERPASS SUMMARY:

Time (PDT)

Wed 29Aug07
Rise---------Peak-------Set,......AzRis--Pk--Set-- PkElev
10:24:25--10:25:55--10:27:40,......68--85--104--1.2
11:53:57--11:59:18--12:04:47,......15--102--185--57.7*
13:27:42--13:31:27--13:35:26,......342--296--48--7.9

Thu 30Aug07
11:18:16--11:23:08--11:28:07,......29--95--161--18.5
12:50:54--12:55:46--13:00:45,......356--289--222--21.7

Fri 31Aug07
10:43:20--10:46:49--10:50:19,.......48--90--130--5.7
12:14:51--12:19:50--12:25:19,.......8--283--198-- 68.5*
13:49:07--13:51:44--13:54:36,.....330--300--267--3.4

[chiefdanfox]

http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/Missio ... rpass.html
the geography is:
40.769167 N
119.22000 W
Set to {custom} input 26953 for the NORAD #
Start 29/ 8/ 2007 three days
PDT
Overpass summary

The orbit hasn't changed much, so the times above are still good. You could also make one from about 15-16 people. Last year's photo had great resolution. I guess there is no end to the shapes you could make with people )°(

Sunday, 26 Aug: 12:09 - 12:20 Weds: 11:54 - 12:04, Fri: 12:14 -12:25

[chiefdanfox]

We'll I'm outta here tomorrow.
Final run on the satellite:

Weds: PDT Rise - peak- set

11:54:12 11:59:34 12:04:55

Fri: PDT

12:15:16 12:20:08 12:25:37

[YouBlowDeadBear]

[quote="sputnik"]Last year I created a large North arrow that did not point North.[/quote]

Outstanding!!! I noticed that ad had a good laugh when I saw it on google maps later and it even screwed up the layout of our camp this year because the guy who planned it out this year used that as a reference from last year. Quality. A+++

[sputnik]

Outstanding!!! I noticed that ad had a good laugh when I saw it on google maps later and it even screwed up the layout of our camp this year because the guy who planned it out this year used that as a reference from last year. Quality. A+++

HA! Excellent.