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Google Maps' high-resolution "satellite" imagery is actually captured from planes.

Google Maps' high-resolution "satellite" imagery is actually captured from planes. Antarctica is huge (1.5x the area of the US), it would be a dangerous logistical nightmare to fly the sorts of patterns you need to capture aerial imagery there, and it's almost entirely covered in non-descript ice -- what would be the value of having high-resolution imagery there?

Posted by jonas21 on Feb 26, 2026, 7:02 PM

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Google Maps' high-resolution "satellite" imagery is actually captured from planes.

jonas21Feb 26, 2026, 7:02 PM

Google Maps' high-resolution "satellite" imagery is actually captured from planes. Antarctica is huge (1.5x the area of the US), it would be a dangerous logistical nightmare to fly the sorts of patterns you need to capture aerial imagery there, and it's almost entirely covered in non-descript ice -- what would be the value of having high-resolution imagery there?

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