Probably some blind spots in Google's camera array . . . or the County's health inspectors chased them off between shots.

Google catches images of ghosts: paranormalists excited. News at 11.

I'm pretty sure that's an inserted node meant as a joke. The lighting in the adjacent nodes is quite a bit different, there are different cars parked on the sides of the street, etc.

Travis,
I sense a little skepticism about paranormal activity with that comment. I used to feel that way, too.
That was before the house on 17th street.
What this post reminds me of is that I never publicly thanked the little girl who sold lemonade. That was great for the comedy business - I felt like I should have given her a cut. But after what she made, I wanted a cut from her.

Google is updating intersection imagery first, then the rest. This happens in many places, including Boston.

Google is updating intersection imagery first, then the rest. This happens in many places, including Boston.

Correct. There's a time difference in imagery.

The real humor, of course, is that Google street views are already out of date in thousands of locations. The street view of my own house is three years old, and two nearby buildings don't even exist anymore.

Very nice catch. As a frequent user of Google street and earth and also Bing's birds eye I have seen a lot of those kinds of anomalies.
The main thing to keep in mind is how the cars and planes fly and collect the data. An intersection would take a huge amount of computer blending. Frequently one of the tracks N-S or E-W would continue through the intersection and the other would be cut out. To have a totally different image set spliced in is very interesting, maybe dong the hard part first then just filling in the straight shots later?

Bing's "street view" is often even more out of date than Google. When comparing both throughout my neighborhood, some images are almost four years old.

And you can get used to that, because over time (and with limited remaps), the images will become even less valid. Google and Microsoft (Bing) won't be re-mapping the world with any sort of regularity or consistency, despite promises otherwise.

All I see, Jack, is way too much concrete and asphalt. You folks need a mess of bioswales real bad.

The weather difference gives it away. Who sells lemonade when it's threatening rain?

The seasons change about half a block down.

I once Googled the house I grew up in and the seasons changed right in the middle of back yard.

It's not just bioswales that are missing. I see way too much empty green space. C'mon, there's room for 3 or 4 skinny houses right on that intersection.

The seasons change no matter which direction you go. Only that corner remains sunny and bright. Maybe Google left it up because it's so cute.

Greater density, for sure.

Lawrence, you're not from around here, are you?

46+years, Godfrey.

And I do lots of stitching and blending as well. I watch for anomalies at 200% in Photoshop and other programs.

Also, look at the growth on the rose bushes. From the corner, they look newly planted, or cut back. as you travel down the street, they are in bloom