Google Sky launched.

News Type: Event — Thu Aug 23, 2007 12:49 PM EDT

Google has recently released Google Earth that allows you to explore the sky called Google Sky - confused? You won't be when you download or upgrade to Version 4 of Google Earth.

While I have not played around in Google Earth for a while, this brings me back to this really cool program.

You basically can click between Google Earth and Sky from one of the tabs and it shows you the sky as you would see it from that location.

It is not as sophisticated as the OpenSource Stellarium, or the very cool Space Simulation Celestia it offers some nice features.. but it is still pretty basic - like when you click on a star, you get a pop-up with detailed info on it.. where some content is text from Wikipedia!

Not all stellar objects have click-able info. And not all objects are displayed other than the major ones.. but that is not to say that it cannot be added like Google Earth, especially since in the background you can zoom in to see an ever expanding low-rez image/photo of the star field (just like in Google Earth). So you get to see the stars and objects but have no idea what they are or what they are called.

I am still discovering all the features, so far it is pretty easy to use, but basic. But who cares, it's from Google!

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1.6

{"commentId":970336,"authorDomain":"vicaxp"}

vicaxp

Its pretty cool!

{"commentId":970336,"threadId":"141611","contentId":"915200","authorDomain":"vicaxp"}

2 votes

#1 - Thu Aug 23, 2007 2:25 PM EDT

{"commentId":970476,"authorDomain":"onlynow99"}

Angel_C

Great! I love Google Earth! My son called a few days ago to say that he and his wife and child have settled for awhile in San Cristobal de las Casas, Mexico and I was able to look at the satellite view of the town and surrounds while talking to him--it's wonderful!

My hubby is a space nut so he'll be excited about Google Sky!

{"commentId":970476,"threadId":"141611","contentId":"915200","authorDomain":"onlynow99"}

#2 - Thu Aug 23, 2007 3:13 PM EDT

{"commentId":971601,"authorDomain":"thura"}

Thura

I now live in a heavily populated urban center so I hardly see the night sky, but when I was growing up we had the very nice night sky.. we even saw the Hailey's Coment when it came around last time.

{"commentId":971601,"threadId":"141611","contentId":"915200","authorDomain":"thura"}

#2.1 - Fri Aug 24, 2007 1:46 AM EDT

{"commentId":970713,"authorDomain":"lele"}

Leah M

Do you know if they have a mac version yet?

{"commentId":970713,"threadId":"141611","contentId":"915200","authorDomain":"lele"}

#3 - Thu Aug 23, 2007 4:47 PM EDT

{"commentId":970727,"authorDomain":"lele"}

Leah M

yes.

{"commentId":970727,"threadId":"141611","contentId":"915200","authorDomain":"lele"}

#3.1 - Thu Aug 23, 2007 4:52 PM EDT

{"commentId":971603,"authorDomain":"thura"}

Thura

That was quick :-)

{"commentId":971603,"threadId":"141611","contentId":"915200","authorDomain":"thura"}

#3.2 - Fri Aug 24, 2007 1:47 AM EDT

{"commentId":971594,"authorDomain":"wwcarlsagand"}

wwcarlsagand

Better than Celestia because it's more true to life.

In Celestia, you can easily get lost in the big ol' universe and if you're not careful, you can actually center and follow on some object other than the earth making it appear as if the universe is nearly consistent in all directions! But with this new Google Earth Space Add-On all navigation occurs from the perspective of earth at the center of the universe. Just like real life!

Actually, the navigation will be easier to use as a night sky guide than celestia because it does keep the earth at the center. I'm all for anything that gets people to go outside and look around a little.

{"commentId":971594,"threadId":"141611","contentId":"915200","authorDomain":"wwcarlsagand"}

#4 - Fri Aug 24, 2007 1:38 AM EDT

{"commentId":971609,"authorDomain":"thura"}

Thura

The fun part of Celestia was that I can 'zoom,' around in space with true 3D objects.. that was the cool part.

I'm all for anything that gets people to go outside and look around a little.

True.

{"commentId":971609,"threadId":"141611","contentId":"915200","authorDomain":"thura"}

#4.1 - Fri Aug 24, 2007 1:48 AM EDT

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Google Sky Allows Users to Tour Galaxies	Associated Press	Wed Aug 22	1
Google Sky Launches - 200 Million Galaxies on Your Desktop	Mashable!	Wed Aug 22	0
In Google Earth, a Service for Scanning the Heavens	The New York Times	Wed Aug 22	7
Google Earth to launch new service for stargazers	Sciam	Wed Aug 22	0
Google to refund customer's Google Video purchases.	battellemedia.com	Wed Aug 22	0

THURA

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Google Sky launched.

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