# What is this on Google Maps **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [March 8, 2016, 3:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-on-google-maps/748256 "2016-03-08T03:15:42Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Cardboard](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/49beb7/32.png) [@Cardboard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cardboard)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2016, 3:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-on-google-maps/748256/1 "2016-03-08T03:15:42Z")
I was looking at some local places on Google Maps and found something curious in the middle of a field. It’s probably something a farmer uses since it’s on farmland, but I was just curious if you guys knew what it was. Here are the coordinates: 42°48’01.2"N 77°50’54.1"W Thanks. ---
**Author:** ![snfaulkner](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snfaulkner/32/433_2.png) [@snfaulkner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/snfaulkner)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2016, 3:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-on-google-maps/748256/2 "2016-03-08T03:34:48Z")
Since it is near an airfield, maybe some sort of town/airfield identifier? Here’s a link to the coordinates in [question](https://www.google.com/maps/place/42%C2%B048'01.2%22N+77%C2%B050'54.1%22W/@42.8002157,-77.8485187,136m/data=!3m1!1e3!4m2!3m1!1s0x0:0x0!5m1!1e4). ---
**Author:** ![UDS](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ecae2f/32.png) [@UDS](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UDS)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2016, 3:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-on-google-maps/748256/3 "2016-03-08T03:57:32Z")
It isn’t near an airfield; it’s in one, just off to one side of a grass landing strip. My guess is that it’s a windsock, or something of the kind. ---
**Author:** ![watchwolf49](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e9c0ed/32.png) [@watchwolf49](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/watchwolf49)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2016, 4:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-on-google-maps/748256/4 "2016-03-08T04:03:54Z")
Must be a calm day then … the circle is the limit of the sock when the wind’s blowing … the two tick marks show someone in the air the traffic pattern for the airstrip … meaning everyone does their downwind leg on the other side from the hangers and stuff. Couple of DC-3’s ? ---
**Author:** ![Bear\_Nenno](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bear_nenno/32/3358_2.png) [@Bear\_Nenno](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bear_Nenno)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2016, 4:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-on-google-maps/748256/5 "2016-03-08T04:09:36Z")
A segmented circle. [http://cfibart.com/gs/aptinfo.html](http://cfibart.com/gs/aptinfo.html) ---
**Author:** ![watchwolf49](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e9c0ed/32.png) [@watchwolf49](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/watchwolf49)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2016, 4:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-on-google-maps/748256/6 "2016-03-08T04:15:57Z")
> [@Bear\_Nenno](#): > > A segmented circle. > > [http://cfibart.com/gs/aptinfo.html](http://cfibart.com/gs/aptinfo.html) Nice … covers about everything except the airport markings for where to crash. ---
**Author:** ![snowthx](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowthx/32/10660_2.png) [@snowthx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/snowthx)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2016, 5:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-on-google-maps/748256/7 "2016-03-08T05:16:02Z")
Looks like it could be a group of bee hives. ---
**Author:** ![Lucas\_Jackson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lucas_jackson/32/303_2.png) [@Lucas\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lucas_Jackson)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2016, 5:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-on-google-maps/748256/8 "2016-03-08T05:48:36Z")
My thought as well. ---
**Author:** ![Jesta](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c5a1d2/32.png) [@Jesta](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jesta)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2016, 1:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-on-google-maps/748256/9 "2016-03-08T13:27:43Z")
I found them! They are white 44 Gallon drums, presumably for part of the air show, but as seen at around the 45 second mark of this short clip, seems this video was taken from standing among them… [Geneseeo Air Show Bomb Run - YouTube](https://youtu.be/Hsq0SEerH9o?t=42s) ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2016, 2:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-this-on-google-maps/748256/10 "2016-03-08T14:57:11Z")
**Bear\_Nenno** nailed it. This small pdf is the FAA standard for their construction. See the last page for explanatory diagrams: [http://www.faa.gov/documentLibrary/media/Advisory\_Circular/150\_5340\_5d.pdf](http://www.faa.gov/documentLibrary/media/Advisory_Circular/150_5340_5d.pdf) The one the OP found is pretty sloppy. It’s either temporary or installed at a very small private airport.