Myth

It's a well repeated fact, probably started around the start of the space race. The one and only man made object that is visible from space is the Great Wall of China.

A Ripley's Believe It of Not! cartoon from 1932 would have us believe it is the only visible man made structure from the Moon.

Reality

Well, this is one of those urban myths that never dies. It is true that the Great Wall of China is indeed very great, tall and long. But surely it hasn't escaped anyones notice that the wall also has another dimension. It's not very wide. Certainly not as wide as the Pyramids of Giza or the land that was reclaimed from the sea by the Dutch.

As for being visible form the moon! Without any further aid, it's actually hard to make out the continents from the moon, such is the distance.

Just to put the final nail in the coffin, astronaut William Pogue had to use binoculars in order to see the Wall from the relatively low orbit of Skylab.

So, not visible with the naked eye.

Tags: great wall, china, Space