Google Earth Mirth

The mystery of the hover car

A second "hovering car" has been spotted on Google's satellite imaging service near a suburban carpark on the outskirts Perth. The image of the mysterious car was identified on Google Earth by the Flyin' Globe website. The car is parked near some houses and a carpark and appears to be floating, casting a shadow on the ground below.

In January, the first "hovering car" was spotting on Google Earth at Point Walter in the affluent south western Perth suburb of Bicton. The image of the most recent "hovering car" is of parkland near the shores of Coogee Beach, just off Cockburn Road, near the corner of Powell Road.

Google Earth images are mostly taken by satellites - and sometimes by aircraft - within the past three years and there are no "live" images on the site.

Google Earth, launched last year, allows users to zoom across the planet and drill down to a height of about 300 metres. The program also has "tilt" function to give a side or angled view of an area or object.

Cars and boats are clearly visible at this level and in some areas, where even higher definition images are available, people can be seen.

The mystery of the hover car explained - perhaps.

one reader - Captn of Perth - may have solved the riddle. He reckons the hovering car could be one of these:

Portable water tanks made by a company called Welltech.

I think this opens a whole new opportunity for fun-lovers and desparate townsfolk. Pranksters can set up all sorts of images and structures that could spark wonder and mirth at Google Earth. And those little, dying towns looking for a bit of fame and a way to get themselves noticed on the map could erect entire townscapes that play especially well on Google Earth. Why should generals and spies have all the fun with the new photo-technology?

NB: for some reason I'm having "issues" uploading the images that accompany the cited sources. You'll just have to go check them out yourself. If I find I can do this later, I'll add them then.