Google earth question

**leejo** · 09-29-2006, 01:55 PM

A buddy of mine in the office is celebrating Ramadan. The other day I saw him sitting his chair praying, and it seemed to me that he was facing roughly North. We're in Houston, so whatever prayer he was cooking up missed its mark by a long shot. Maybe Santa Claus can do him a solid or something.

Anyway, we're trying to find an elegant way to tell the direction one should face when sending a shout out to Allah. For those who don't know, the Kabbah stone is in Mecca, Saudi Arabia, and when muslims pray they face Mecca, specifically the Kabbah stone.

The idea solution would allow us to pull up a map with a red line between one's current location and Mecca. I don't see a way in google earth to get this as-the-prayer-flies direction indicator, but I've used the app for about 5 minutes.

I'd appreciate any ideas of suggestions. A clever developer might make a few dollars off of this, as I'm not seeing anything on the web that's already been done.

**WhiskeySix** · 09-29-2006, 02:15 PM

Tools->Ruler

edit:

**leejo** · 09-29-2006, 02:25 PM

Thanks!! Maybe we infidels will get a couple of skanks in the afterlife for this.

He thought he should be facing E too, but now that I see the map, his prayers were much closer to the mark than we knew!

Steeler · 09-29-2006, 02:50 PM

Looks like technically he should be praying down, but then the mole people might hear.

**WhiskeySix** · 09-29-2006, 02:52 PM

who made North UP on the maps anyway??

icky · 09-29-2006, 05:02 PM

This is actually a complicated question. Are you trying to face the direction which gives the shortest path, or in any direction which gets you there?

xTYBALTx · 09-29-2006, 08:47 PM

I pray in the direction of TG's PoE2 server. But that's just me...

icky · 09-29-2006, 09:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by xTYBALTx

I pray in the direction of TG's PoE2 server. But that's just me...

I've never tried praying. Usually I just curse in the general direction of the internet while I'm staring at a "There is a problem with your connection" screen.

**CingularDuality** · 09-30-2006, 05:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WhiskeySix

Tools->Ruler

FTW!

**Exploding_Silver** · 09-30-2006, 10:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by icky

This is actually a complicated question. Are you trying to face the direction which gives the shortest path, or in any direction which gets you there?

If it was the shortest direction he would kinda pray into the ground and if its along the surface of the earth then how does he know his prayer will bend around the curvature of the earth and not just go out into space.

Joking aside, I'm sure the muslims had this direction thing all worked out even before the advent of computers

**CingularDuality** · 10-01-2006, 01:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Exploding_Silver

Joking aside, I'm sure the muslims had this direction thing all worked out even before the advent of computers

No, I know a couple of guys that argue over which direction they should face...

**Rincewind** · 10-01-2006, 02:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CingularDuality

No, I know a couple of guys that argue over which direction they should face...

They should face eachother, look deeply in to eachothers eyes, embrace, and kiss.

Oh, you said a couple of guys... Meh, what the hell...

09-29-2006, 01:55 PM	#1 (permalink)
leejo Join Date: Sep 2003 Age: 39 Posts: 7,839	Google earth question A buddy of mine in the office is celebrating Ramadan. The other day I saw him sitting his chair praying, and it seemed to me that he was facing roughly North. We're in Houston, so whatever prayer he was cooking up missed its mark by a long shot. Maybe Santa Claus can do him a solid or something. Anyway, we're trying to find an elegant way to tell the direction one should face when sending a shout out to Allah. For those who don't know, the Kabbah stone is in Mecca, Saudi Arabia, and when muslims pray they face Mecca, specifically the Kabbah stone. The idea solution would allow us to pull up a map with a red line between one's current location and Mecca. I don't see a way in google earth to get this as-the-prayer-flies direction indicator, but I've used the app for about 5 minutes. I'd appreciate any ideas of suggestions. A clever developer might make a few dollars off of this, as I'm not seeing anything on the web that's already been done.

09-29-2006, 02:15 PM	#2 (permalink)
WhiskeySix Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Gillette Stadium, Section 309, Row 12, Seat 24 Age: 33 Posts: 8,520	Re: Google earth question Tools->Ruler edit: __________________ *PoE2 Version 2.5 Overview \| Get started with PoE2 (for free!)*

09-29-2006, 02:25 PM	#3 (permalink)
leejo Join Date: Sep 2003 Age: 39 Posts: 7,839	Re: Google earth question Thanks!! Maybe we infidels will get a couple of skanks in the afterlife for this. He thought he should be facing E too, but now that I see the map, his prayers were much closer to the mark than we knew!

09-29-2006, 02:50 PM	#4 (permalink)
Steeler Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Taxachusetts Age: 30 Posts: 2,952	Re: Google earth question Looks like technically he should be praying down, but then the mole people might hear. __________________

09-29-2006, 02:52 PM	#5 (permalink)
WhiskeySix Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Gillette Stadium, Section 309, Row 12, Seat 24 Age: 33 Posts: 8,520	Re: Google earth question who made North UP on the maps anyway?? __________________ *PoE2 Version 2.5 Overview \| Get started with PoE2 (for free!)*

09-29-2006, 05:02 PM	#6 (permalink)
icky Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Ottawa Valley Posts: 6,154	Re: Google earth question This is actually a complicated question. Are you trying to face the direction which gives the shortest path, or in any direction which gets you there? __________________ Peace through fear... since 1947!

09-29-2006, 08:47 PM	#7 (permalink)
xTYBALTx Join Date: Aug 2005 Posts: 3,919	Re: Google earth question I pray in the direction of TG's PoE2 server. But that's just me... __________________ A policy of freedom for the individual is the only truly progressive policy. -F.A. Hayek "$250,000 a year won't get me to Central Park West."

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