KEY POINTS:
Google Earth - an interactive 3D rotating view of the planet that can zoom in anywhere in the world - has a new feature that lets users
explore space without even having to look up.
'Sky', a new feature that lets users view the sky as seen from
Earth, floating through space and navigating through 100 million stars and 200 million galaxies.
With high resolution imagery and informative overlays, it has become a unique tool for learning about space - not to mention giving frustrated astronauts the ability to fulfil their dreams.
As part of the new feature, Google is introducing seven informative layers that illustrate various celestial bodies and events.
Here is what Sky can do - straight from the horse's mouth.
Constellations - From Cassiopeia to Andromeda, the Constellations layer connects the points of constellations through space, labelling each with its given name. Users can learn about the stars that make up their favorite constellations.
Backyard Astronomy - The Backyard Astronomy layer lets users click through a variety of placemarks and information on stars, galaxies, and nebulae visible to the eye, binoculars and small telescopes. This layer is useful for the amateur astronomer who might benefit from a comprehensive, organised way to reference fragments of the night sky.
Hubble Space Telescope Imagery - The HST layer provides the user with over 120 beautiful high-resolution images provided by the Hubble Space Telescope, Nasa/ESA's renowned orbiting telescope.
Moon - The Moon layer displays animations of two months of both lunar positions and moon phases.
Planets - The Planets layer exhibits the seven other official planets and their positions in the sky two months into the future.
Users Guide to Galaxies - The Users Guide to Galaxies layer enables users to go on virtual tours through different types of galaxies, from Ursa Minor Dwarf to the Milky Way.
Life of a Star - The Life of a Star layer takes the user on a tour through the different stages of a star's life cycle.
The Sky feature was embled by stitching together imagery from numerous scientific third parties including the Space Telescope Science Institute (STScI), the Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS), the Digital Sky Survey Consortium (DSSC), CalTech's Palomar Observatory, the United Kingdom Astronomy Technology Centre (UK ATC), and the Anglo-Australian Observatory (AAO).
Google Earth is free download.
* A spokesperson for Google Earth said not all Sky content would be available immediately but would update over the next few days.
- NZ HERALD STAFF