Google Earth Shows Us the Stars

There is a new version of Google Earth out which shows users more than just — uh, well — the Earth. Version 4.2 of GE now offers space imagery — naturally, from the perspective of us earth-dwellers.

Most of the photography is from the Hubble Space Telescope, and it is impressive. Stars, nebulae, and galaxies — it is all there. According to the press release, the new Sky feature gives users the opportunity “to view and navigate through 100 million individual stars and 200 million galaxies.” Color me impressed.

As a amateur star-gazer, I really like the addition of the astronomical images to Google Earth. Sure, it takes the software beyond its original purpose, but in this instance, I think that is all right, especially since GE is still primarily earth-focused. Before, the application just allowed us to look down upon the earth; now it also includes the ability to look upward from the earth. As it says on the Google Earth site, “Earth doesn't sit in a vacuum… that would be an awful waste of space.” I couldn’t agree more.

But if I could offer one minor complaint about the new version, it would be that a user has to choose between viewing either the earth or the sky instead of being able to see both at the same time. It would be really nice if Google Earth offered a composite view which would allow looking at the earth’s horizon and the night sky simultaneously. Perhaps that can be included in a future release.

Update (2007-09-01): As much I like like the sky view, something even cooler has been discovered in Google Earth 4.2 — a flight simulator! According to Google Operating System, the simulator is an Easter egg which can be activated by pressing Ctrl+Alt+A with the software open and the application focus on the globe.

“Pilots” have a choice between two different aircrafts (an F-16 “Viper” jet fighter or a SR22 propeller airplane) and can choose to take off from a number of various airports around the world or begin flying from the current location.

It may not be as good as Microsoft Flight Simulator, but it is still very cool and shows some of the potential that Google Earth has as a platform for other applications.

Tags: Google Earth • Star • Software Version • Earth • Space • Imagery • Hubble Space Telescope • Nebula • Galaxy • Press Release • Astronomy • Application • Night Sky • Flight Simulator • Easter Egg (Virtual) • Globe • Aircraft • F-16 • Viper • SR22 • Airport • Microsoft Flight Simulator • Application Platform