Why does the shadow of Skylab appear so large in this video?

[2milehi]

Please ignore the UFO reference and watch for 5 seconds in the below link. One can see the shadow of Skylab on the Earth. Skylab is in a 235 mile orbit above the surface of the Earth. Clouds are about 5 miles above the surface of the Earth. So the camera capturing the images is at least 230 miles from the shadow. Why is the shadow so large?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=1p6uMMvM9ow#t=114s

 

[Borek]

I don't see Skylab shadow, all I see are camera artifacts.

 

[2milehi]

Camera artifacts? Please explain how that relates to the "shadow" image on the left side of the video.

 

[2milehi]

OK, I see it now - some schmaltz on the camera lens. More light from bright clouds drowns it out. Less light from the dark blue oceans make it more visible.

 

[LudusRex]

I would like to clarify that the shadow seen in this video is not actually the shadow of Skylab on the Earth. Skylab, a space station launched by NASA in 1973, has long since re-entered Earth's atmosphere and disintegrated. What is being seen in the video is actually the shadow of a passing aircraft, possibly the one filming the footage.

The reason the shadow appears so large is due to the angle at which the camera is capturing the footage. The closer an object is to the camera, the larger it will appear in the frame. Additionally, the sun's position and the angle of the camera can also affect the size and shape of the shadow.

It is important to remember that shadows are not static and can change in size and shape depending on various factors. In this case, the size of the shadow may also be affected by atmospheric conditions, such as the density and composition of the clouds.

In conclusion, the shadow seen in this video is not the shadow of Skylab, but rather the shadow of a passing aircraft. The size and shape of the shadow is influenced by multiple factors, including the camera angle and atmospheric conditions. As scientists, it is important to critically analyze and question information presented to us, and not jump to conclusions based on limited evidence.