Quote:
Originally Posted by Maritime Q-Scout
Here's a random question a friend of mine keeps asking me and I keep coming up with different answers.
How come, sometimes planes look REALLY high in the sky, like you can't tell what they are, how many engines they are, or any markings on them. Yet, sometimes you can make out how many engines are on a plane, and the painting of the livery, etc?
|
Probably because you don't know how far away they are, rather than how high up they are. You have no way of judging horizontal distance away from you, so unless its directly overhead, the size of the aircraft can't be used to determine altitude.
The higher up it is, the further away it can be, and still be in the same spot and same size in the sky as something lower and closer.