Satellite Photo of Teotihuacan, Mexico
In its series of satellite photos of ancient observatories, temples, and ruins, Satellite Imaging Corporation presents Teotihuacan in Mexico, taken with the IKONOS Satellite. See more IKONOS Satellite images in our gallery.
Click the thumbnail to further enlarge the image.
About Teotihuacan
Rising 20 stories above the central Mexican highlands, the pyramids of Teotihuacan (pronounced tay-oh-tee-wah-con) were central to Toltec learning and culture. The city, about the size of ancient Athens and Rome, was abandoned about 1500 years ago. Some believe the city was attacked by an invading army, such as the Toltecs, while newer evidence points to an internal, class-based struggle.
Using an advanced understanding of mathematics, geometry and astronomy, the Toltecs built the largest pyramid, "The Pyramid of the Sun," with an alignment to coincide with the two days (May 19th and July 25th) when the sun would be directly over the top of the pyramid at noon. This would also create an alignment to the east toward the rising sun and to the west for the setting sun. This pyramid has a base only 10 feet shorter on each side than the Great Pyramid of Cheops in Egypt.
About the Teotihuacan Satellite Image
GeoEye's IKONOS satellite took this image of Teotihuacan October 12, 2001. Photo credit: GeoEye
- Date Acquired:12-OCT-2001
- Upper Left Latitude: 20.6146
- Upper Left Longitude:-99.1156
- Upper Right Latitude: 20.6284
- Upper Right Longitude: -98.9901
- Lower Right Latitude: 20.4861
- Lower Right Longitude: -98.9884
- Lower Left Latitude: 20.4692
- Lower Left Longitude: -99.1168
- Overall Cloud Score: 0
- Cloud Score - Upper Left: 0
- Cloud Score - Upper Right: 0
- Cloud Score - Lower Left:0
- Cloud Score - Lower Right: 0
- Satellite Tilt Angle: 62.3677
- Sun Azimuth: 101.5026
- Sun Elevation: 68.6832
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