- News
- October 24, 2024
A Mile Long Map At Burning Man 2024
Can a map be a mile long? Kevin Kelly (founding editor of Wired Magazine) and David Rumsey created one with The Speed of The Earth art installation, a roughly one mile long line of 30 strobe lights mapping the rotational speed of the earth on its axis - 1156 feet per second or 788 miles per hour. Installed at Burning Man on the Black Rock Desert in Nevada in September of 2024, The Speed of The Earth joined over 400 other art works to form one of the largest public art exhibitions in the world, seen by over 75,000 attendees. The lights moved at the Earth's rotational speed around its axis at the latitude of Burning Man. Watching the lights move, observers were able to feel the rotation of the Earth under their feet. Each light unit made its own solar power, stored it in batteries for night consumption, ran 24/7 without interruption, and used GPS satellites to determine when to flash in sequence.
Drone video shows the lights at night from above.
The Speed of The Earth installation is the red line.
Showing the 100 foot corona of each light.
One of the thirty lights.
The lights seen from the top of The Man looking north towards the Temple.
Light flashing.
Lights seen at ground level moving from east to west across the playa.
Video by Reza Tabesh - "From this one spot you can see 4 perspectives from Burning Man 🔥 @_mayanwarrior_ takes the foreground with @sonicrunway being seen in the distance. Upon observation you can easily see the lights from art installation, The Speed of The Earth and far in the background you can even see the Drone Show. Burning Man is an incredible place where many perspectives and energies come together in harmony" Watch on Instagram with Sound