New Google Earth Function--The Stars

[MeteorWayne]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/6955787.stm<br /><br />Google Earth given celestial view <br />By Jonathan Fildes <br />Science and technology reporter, BBC News <br /><br />"The tool is an add-on to Google Earth, a program that allows users to search a 3D rendition of our planet's surface. <br /><br />Sky will allow astronomers a chance to glide through images of more than one million stars and 200 million galaxies. <br /><br />Optional layers allow users to explore images from the Hubble Space Telescope as well as animations of lunar cycles. <br /><br />"The basic idea is to take Google Earth and turn it on its head," Ed Parsons, Geospatial technologist at Google told the BBC News website. <br /><br />"So rather than using it to view imagery of the Earth, use it to view imagery of space." <br /><br />Dr John Mason of the British Astronomical Association, Britain's largest body for amateur astronomers said: "Light pollution and air pollution is now so bad in many areas that all you can see when you look up is a few dozen stars. <br /><br />"If this helps people to realise just what they are missing, it is a jolly good thing." <br /><br /><br />I haven't had a chance to try it yet, perhaps this afternoon.<br /> <br /> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><font color="#000080"><em><font color="#000000">But the Krell forgot one thing John. Monsters. Monsters from the Id.</font></em> </font></p><p><font color="#000080">I really, really, really, really miss the "first unread post" function</font><font color="#000080"> </font></p> </div>

 

[heyscottie]

Darn. I was just about to post this same story, but Wayne beat me to it...<br /><br />I'll have to download the new Google Earth to get this as soon as possible!

 

[MeteorWayne]

I must thank my friend Arlene from Troy for alerting me to it on the meteorobs maillist. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><font color="#000080"><em><font color="#000000">But the Krell forgot one thing John. Monsters. Monsters from the Id.</font></em> </font></p><p><font color="#000080">I really, really, really, really miss the "first unread post" function</font><font color="#000080"> </font></p> </div>

 

[PistolPete]

I just tried it out. Very cool! It's just like Google Earth, except in reverse. I haven't quite tested out all of the cool features, but at this point I don't think that It's going to give Starry Night too much of a run for its money. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p> </p><p><em>So, again we are defeated. This victory belongs to the farmers, not us.</em></p><p><strong>-Kambei Shimada from the movie Seven Samurai</strong></p> </div>

 

[Smersh]

Yes I saw it on the TV this morning, just downloaded it and gave it a quick try. Certainly does look cool. <br />Go to this link and download Google Earth version 4.2:<br /><br />http://earth.google.com/sky/skyedu.html<br /><br />If you have an earlier version of GE installed, it will replace the old one.<br /><br />According to the blurb on the web page it has "about a hundred million stars and two hundred million galaxies" (eh??)<br /><br /><img src="/images/icons/smile.gif" /><br /><br /> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <h1 style="margin:0pt;font-size:12px">----------------------------------------------------- </h1><p><font color="#800000"><em>Lady Nancy Astor: "Winston, if you were my husband, I'd poison your tea."<br />Churchill: "Nancy, if you were my wife, I'd drink it."</em></font></p><p><font color="#0000ff"><strong>Website / forums </strong></font></p> </div>

 

[dutchie]

Anyone ever tried Celestia with its 3D GUI?<br />Free download at http://www.shatters.net/celestia/

 

[symbolite]

I already have Starry Night but ill definatly download this update to Google Earth and check it out. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>