Google recently released a new application in their Google Earth program called “Sky in Google Earth” which allows computer users to use their computer as a telescope to explore the Universe with the help of Coonabarabran’s Siding Springs Observatory in northern New South Wales.
Sky in Google Earth gives people access to 100 million stars and 200 million galaxies, from any point on the earth.
“The basic background data for the southern hemisphere comes from the photographic plates which were taken by our UK Schmidt [telescope] at Siding Springs Observatory during a lengthy period between 1973, when the telescope started, and about 2001 when we took our last photograph with that telescope,” said Fred Watson, the astronomer in charge of the Anglo-Australian Observatory
With this addition, it seems the world (and the universe) seems to get a whole lot smaller. What do you think?
Pingback: Google Adds Flight Simulator To Google Earth