Satellite Imagery - what shows up?

LOL, it seems the Labs are researching how their own satelitte imagery works. So, just for fun, let me post my questions here.

First, everyone should note that there are a number of prim characteristics that COULD affect images on the world map. Amongst these are, height, matierial type, shinyness, luminosity, color, physicality (vs phantom, etc.) to name a few.

I advise you to visit an example, before you repsond. My example is the KART location in IGBO (79,233,351). This is NOT a plug and I have no interest in that location. Note the ceiling however. This APPEARS to be a metal roof with some kind of glass and lettering.

Now, as we all know, the texture of an object is not the same as the material type. And from these joined prims, we cannot tell what material was used.

But look on the world map at this location. You will see the structure outlined against the land. The glass "cutouts" in the appearant metal roof appear differently on the map. And the K-A-R-T lettering stands out most clearly. There are a minimum of 4 different "transparancies" or "densities" as far as the satellite photo is concerned. Yet, the entire structure is at the same height above the surface.

So, we can rule out height for the factors in an answer, even though that's the most commonly given reponse to this question.

I am considering making a series of objects, each with a variation in attributes just to test the imagery. However, the map is not often updated.

So, does anyone already know what the factors are in the satellite sensing objects?
And for extra credit, what is the map update schedule? Clearly, it's not every night.

I only know a couple of things. First, people spell out words on top of their buildings and it appears on the satelite photos. Second, I placed a structure equal in dimensions to my property OVER my property at 550m. The satelite photo still shows my structures on the ground.

I believe the alt. is around 400m and under it'll be on the map.

So they must be using one of those low altitude ACME satelites. hahaha

according to the blog update, they are still cranking out images "manually" so they have lowered their refresh time and promised to do it at least once a week.

~Lefty

I went to see my SLURL the other day and found the maps not showing anything but an 'X' where an image should be. very dissapointed in this latest outcome .

I then went to the map inworld and pulled up my store location and was thrilled to see that the Avatar replica of my Mechantula I had placed on the roff to scale, was shoing up nicely , i could distinctly tell by its 'spidery' shape thus also giving me an idea of how big the Avat would be in world view at this height.

I've found that invsi prims come out white or grey on the map.

edit: Some palces on the map. (not in any order)
1. Omidyar, LL used underwatter landscaping to make a hand symbol
2. Palomarian, There is a red packman ghost.
3. Gerstle
4. Gluphisia is totaly covered by a texas outline.
5. Caladon, very well done sign at ground level

I put my first name over a 2048 plot in the Diamond Island sim during August because, well, I was curious. After a few weeks of trying, I figured that the map image was updated every Friday night/Saturday morning (GMT), and the object should be positioned lower than 400m.