Distance Between Two Objects

Yes, they are called range finding binoculars. Look it up.

There are Smartphone apps that will do that. (I don't know how accurate)

http://www.wikihow.com/Measure-Distance-on-Android

Akin to designing the machine to make a new widget can be more fun than designing the actual widget... I enjoy these posts but not so much the post in and of itself but rather reading through the OP's posting history and trying to figure out what the heck they're doing.

You either have WAY too much free time, or are working for the NSA.

"... so that we can estimate the distance between two objects..."

Well, sometimes a measured rule can be used.

This sort of depends... the distance between the surface of the sun and the surface of the earth, for example cannot be estimated using this technique.

Can you maybe tell us a little, tiny bit more?

Google Earth.

It all depends on the application, the accuracy needed and how clever the person is in doing the calculation. Eratosthenes was such a clever fellow that he measured the circumference of the Earth to 0.16% accuracy over 2200 years ago.

2,200 years is a long time to measure the Earth.

well, the most difficult part was swimming across the oceans!

The real pain was when he lost count of his strokes and had to start over.

Thats why it is so accurate! Guess how climate science would advance with this sort of data under the belt.

I brought up Eratosthenes ancient work on measuring the circumference of the Earth because depending on how far away these two distant objects are one might have to adjust for the curvature of the Earth. You probably will have to also know the perceived angle between the two objects from your perspective. Then perform a little simple geometry.

If these two distant objects are the golf ball you just hit and the flagged hole further down the fairway then a simple pocket rangefinder will do fine. Particularly since you're supposed to walk to your next shot anyway.

It all depends on the application and the accuracy needed for an unknown task.

Do you want to design one because low cost and feeling the pleasure or you want to buy a one from the market and you need some advices (the first choice is 3/4 your homework)

Search for range finder binoculars from Edmund Optics (formerly Edmund Scientific) there's bunches of fun stuff in there.

What range of distance. Bosch has laser distant devices

Is it "down the road a piece"? Is it "a hoot and a holler"? Is it "as the crow flies"? Is it "a fortnight's distance"? Is it "halfway to Milwaukee and back"? Is it "round the bend"? Is it "cold AND deep"? ?

Sounds like a beginning of an novel..... Never heard of halfway to Milwaukee and back. I heard of Old Milwaukee and you fill in the blank... Go great together.

I usually use- ½ pass a monkey's ašš/ ¼ way to his Bâllš, but if I truly needed precision, I would use the Çùñt Ηair scale, that always seems universal and understood by most people

But I'm strange that way

Quote:I would use the Çùñt Ηair scale, that always seems universal and understood by most people Endquote:

I knew someone that got into big trouble for saying that to a female machinest.

We just call that a "short curly one". Don't get in trouble that way.

It really depends on who and how they interpret phrase. The context I used was not meant to be interpreted as derogatory, but as a unit of measurement

"A unit of Measure that means small, but actual Value depends on Application

"Precision machinist says, "I need to shave a CH off this part" -.0001 inch

Carpenter Says, "I need to bang that stud a CH to the left" -.25 inch

Astronomer says, "That Asteroid missed the planet by a CH!" -60,000 miles

Ahh so a CH is not an absolute unit of measure then.

It all depends on the relationship between the placement of the CH, the source of the CH and any significant others.

Perhaps a source inspection is required.

Absolutely, and most definitely!

It will involve trigonometry. Once you have the distance to both objects and the angle at which you see them you have their distance.

Trig! Absolutely. The distance between two distant objects Can only be determined from knowledge of the distance to each from the point of observation, AND the angle between the two lines of sight. Remember the "S-A-S" mnemonic?

Radar or lasers and a little trig.

Try a GPS, since you want an estimate.

http://www8.nau.edu/cvm/latlongdist.html

simple

Aserial photographs, scale maps, walky-wheels and tape measures spring immediately to mind.

Radar. With aeronautical systems, you get its height as well.

Are we there yet?

http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/491131/range-finder

Buy or rent a Surveyor's transit and learn how to use it or, pay a surveyor to do this work, which depending on your necessity and financial status, is the best option. Transits are the most accurate means of securing distance measurements with a very high degree of precision. In reality, what you want is a distance from three objects, the transit and the other two objects of your interest.

As my father used to say:

If it takes a yard and a half of tripe to make an elephant a waistcoat,
what does it take to cover his behind? (answer below)

jt.

A woman pregnant with triplets was walking down the street when a masked robber
ran out of a bank and shot her three times in the stomach. Luckily the babies were OK.
The surgeon decided to leave the bullets in because it was too risky to operate.
She gave birth to two healthy daughters and a healthy son.
All was fine for 16 years, and then one daughter walked into the room in tears.

'What's wrong?' asked the mother. 'I was taking a tinkle and this bullet came out,' replied the daughter.

The mother told her it was okay and explained what happened 16 years ago.
About a week later the second daughter walked into the room in tears.
'Mom, I was taking a tinkle and this bullet came out.'
Again the mother told her not to worry and explained what happened 16 years ago.
A week later her son walked into the room in tears.
'It's okay' said the Mom, 'I know what happened. You were taking a tinkle and a bullet came out.'
'No,' said the boy, 'I was playing with myself and I've shot the dog.'

Answer: His tail.

nice question