Does Google earth have a distance measuring problem?

[Captain Kilowatt]

I was just messing around with Google Earth looking for the point on the planet that is exactly opposite my QTH. This point is called the Antipode. I simple brought up the ruler tool and clicked on my location and then moved the cursor to the region where I knew I was close which happens to be south of western Australia. As you move the cursor around there will be a point where if you move the cursor in a small circle the path will rotate evenly around the planet and this is the antipode. When I found it the distance said 7900 miles when it should have been almost 12,000 miles. The 7900 miles is what it would be if measured straight through the centre of the planet. Anyone else notice this before? I am using Google Earth 6.0.1.2032 (beta) which is supposed to be the latest release.

 

[Captain Kilowatt]

I also just noticed that if you choose "Degrees" as the unit of measure it will only go to about 114 degrees instead of the normal 180 degrees required for a path half way around the world. Interesting.

 

[Beetle]

My version is 6.0.2.2074. I can't actually see my QTH and its antipode at the same time. Mine is over closer to Kerguelen (actually just about exactly halfway between Kerguelen and Crozet). Stretching the yellow line as far as I could, I got well over 8000 miles before it gave up. Will have to do some more experimenting...

 

[pro151]

This is the same Google navigation system that if you entered a starting address here and an ending address in the UK, would carry you to the East coast and then direct you to swim across the ocean. :laugh:

 

[Captain Kilowatt]

My version is 6.0.2.2074. I can't actually see my QTH and its antipode at the same time. Mine is over closer to Kerguelen (actually just about exactly halfway between Kerguelen and Crozet). Stretching the yellow line as far as I could, I got well over 8000 miles before it gave up. Will have to do some more experimenting...

Pat, if you click on your QTH and then zoom out you can click on the image and move the mouse without letting go of the mouse button and rotate the image. As long as you don't release the mouse button until after you have stopped moving it it will not mark that spot as a measuring point. I can't see both points at the same time either. Interesting you have a later build version than I have and yet I just searched for updates and was told there were no updates available at this time. I agree about the need for more experimenting.


pro151, at least that was an attempt at humour from the folks at Google. At one time when you looked at the moon using Google earth's moon view it would show a piece of green cheese if you zoomed in too far. :laugh:

 

[C2]

You have to completely unistall Ge and then reinstall the latest version.

 

[GnG8d]

Does it give the azimuth too?

 

[Captain Kilowatt]

You have to completely unistall Ge and then reinstall the latest version.

That did the trick. I don't know why I didn't think of it. Actually I do know why. When I checked for updates it told me there were none but after an uninstalla nd reinstall of the latest version 6.0.2.2074 it works like a charm. My antipode is now 12,501 miles away.

Does it give the azimuth too?

Yes it gives the azimuth. I use it a lot when looking for beam headings.

 

[GnG8d]

Yes it gives the azimuth. I use it a lot when looking for beam headings.

Nice. I downloaded it once, but then never messed with it much. I was getting coordinates from Streets and Trips and then plugging that into a Great Circle mapper.