Can you take a selfie from space? Yes, you can! This is what the European Union Delegation to Australia Satellite Selfie display looks like photographed from 770 km above Earth by a satellite travelling an astonishing 26,850 kms per hour.
The photo, taken by Maxar technologies, is available via the searchable online map(link is external) (Canberra Northside).
As part of the National Science Week celebrations (15-23 August) satellite company Maxar was tasked with capturing a sizeable selfie, 845 km/sq, of Canberra and surrounds in a feat that had never been attempted before!
Image @Maxar Technologies.
The @EUinAus team together with colleagues from the European Embassies and High Commissions got their space faces on and struck a socially distanced pose for the ultimate, out of this world, selfie.
The group, including European Ambassadors and High Commissioners to Australia, got together (on two days) at the shores of Lake Burley Griffin to present a display big enough to be seen, and snapped, from space. The colourful display, measuring almost 15m in circumference, features the European Union flag circled by the flags of each of the 27 Member States. How many can you identify!?
The EU flag is a circle of 12 gold stars on a blue background. The stars stand for the ideals of unity, solidarity and harmony and nothing to do with the number of member states. This is why the flag has stayed the same over the years. Did you know? This year, 2020, marks 35 years since the EU flag was officially adopted and 65 years since its original design?
And we are pretty sure 2020 is also the first time the EU flag has been photographed from space!
The Satellite Selfie initiative was organised as part of the Where You Are Festival with the support of the Australian Government, the ACT Government and Australian National University.
Drone photos: Overall Photography
Photos: Susanna Dunkerley/Jonathan Li
EU Delegation to Australia
