Google updates Sky

 

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By Matthew Sparkes

Posted on 10 Jan 2008 at 07:04

Google has released an update to the Sky feature of Google Earth, the tool that lets users pick a point on Earth and see a view of the night sky from that location.

The update adds a host of new features, including podcasts on current cosmological events such as the appearance of comets and asteroids; historical maps dating back to 1792 and images from various observatories in the x-ray, infrared and ultraviolet spectrums.

The flow of information now runs both ways, too, as amateur astronomers can upload their own content which will become accessible to users in optional layers.

Google has also introduced an Application Programming Interface which will allow developers to creates "mashups" from Sky imagery, just as they can in Google maps.

When Sky in Google Earth was launched in August last year, Professor Francisco Diego from the astronomy department of University College London told PC Pro that he hoped the software could become an "astronomical YouTube", consolidating amatuer efforts worldwide.

To experiment with the new Sky functionality, download the latest version of the software from the Google Earth website.

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