Google Earth

Written by Chris Ford | 21 August 2009
Posted in Articles

What is Google Earth?

Google Earth is client and server software that renders a three dimensional globe with satellite photos stitched seamlessly across it. Add to this a geographic grid (Global Positioning System co-ordinates) with map elements such as roads, and legend elements such as landmarks and businesses. Other featured overlays of Google Earth are Traffic, Weather, and terrain information. If you have a joystick then you'll be able to fly in a fighter jet or single engine plane anywhere in the virtual Google world with Googles built-in flight simulator. Google Earth is also completely free.

What is new in Google Earth 5?

• 3D Moon - Take tours of NASA landing sites with narration by Apollo astronauts. View 3D models of NASA's spacecraft landed on the moon. Zoom into 360-degree photos of the moon to see astronauts footprints. Watch rare TV footage of the Apollo missions.
• 3D Mars - View photos from NASA just hours old from Mars. Take an interactive tour of Mars with the narration. View 3D models of NASA's ROVER and follow its' tracks with 360-degree panoramas. Search for the famous landmarks of Mars such as the Olympus Mons or the Face on Mars.
• Historical images - see the effects of time on any neighbourhood or site.
• Earth's Ocean - With content partners such as the BBC and National Geographic, the underneath of the ocean can be explored and find shipwrecks such as the Titanic.
• Recordable tour - Narrate your own virtual tour and share it with friends.