From how far away can you see your skyline?? (backyard, metro)

[knke0204]

Originally Posted by mackinac81

Don't know if I was seeing things, but I was on top of a 200 foot sand dune at Warren Dunes State Park in SW Michigan. It was an absolutely clear day, and I thought I could see the Sears Tower across Lake Michigan (Warren Dunes is directly across from Downtwon Chicago--about 50 miles). Again, I don't know if it was Chicago, but I definitely saw some kind of structure directly on the other side, and it wasn't a boat.

Yep, it was the skyline!
Chicago Skyline from Warren Dunes Across Lake Michigan photo - tzphotos.com photos at pbase.com

[WuBMaYNE]

I used the live past Jersey Village in Houston, and there was a elevated area near our house, we could see downtown clearly, looked amazing, probably only 20 miles or so.

[MountainBiking]

I can see the Los Angeles skyline from Upland/Pomona (about 30 miles east) from the 210 freeway; of course on a clear day when the wind has blown the smog to the Pacific Ocean.

On a similar note, I've been told from different people that on a handful of days during the year -when conditions are perfect- passengers from airplanes flying over So Cal at a specific point before heading down for landing at Los Angeles (LAX) can see the light beam in the night sky from the Luxor Hotel in Las Vegas. That's almost 300 miles away!

-Cheers.

[Frankster87]

The Atlanta skyline is tricky given our rolling hills and large volume of trees. It can go from completely hidden to smacking you right in the face. I can see the skyline on my commute home from the sandy springs area some 15 or so miles away at ground level. The skyline can also be seen from Kennesaw Mountain some 25 miles away.

[bergenboy]

Seattle and bellevue from mt si pretty far away

[rah]

The San Francisco skyline as seen (barely) from Mount Hamilton, which is about 50 miles away, next to San Jose:


All sizes | San Francisco Bay | Flickr - Photo Sharing! (http://www.flickr.com/photos/10248895@N05/4203777272/sizes/l/in/photostream/ - broken link)

[animatedmartian]

Detroit from the mouth of Lake Erie (almost). 15 +/- Miles.





And about 20-30 miles from the north.




Photos by Marc Mackenzie.

Farther north the landscape gets more hilly, and (obviously) more forested. I think you can still manage to see above the trees if you find a hill tall enough with a clear south facing side (or a building tall enough). If thats true, than you can probably see the city from maybe 40 +/- miles out.

[gman6974]

Here's one of the Charlotte skyline from Grandfather Mountain. About 82 air miles away. The photographer was the late Hugh MacRae Morton, owner of Grandfather Mountain prior to his death in June of 2006.

[Spotila]

I know this is a massive ask, perhaps someone in the area could give an accurate answer. Do you think it would be possible to find a spot where both the San Diego and Los Angeles skylines are visible on a clear day? Perhaps somewhere high up near Camp Pendleton or some such? Or even from one of those islands off the California Coast. Let's be honest, a shot has probably never been taken, but is it theoretically possible?

[jonesyvoor]

I've heard a rumor that from atop the Sears Tower in Chicago on a very clear day that you can see both the skyline of NYC and LA at the same time. Okay, that's not true. Damn Denver gets in the way.