Google Sky now on the Web
Posted by Jacque on March 15th, 2008
Last year Google Sky was introduced in Google Earth through a dowloadble application. Now Google Sky can be explored with any Web browser on any operating system, “turning it into a virtual telescope that can zoom and pan across the entire cosmos,” says Google Lat Long Blog. Here are some ways to easily explore the universe:
- Powerful search that lets you browse tens of thousands of named objects.
- Three optical sky surveys that show you what your naked eye would see if it had a really good zoom lens. Try switching to infrared, microwave, ultraviolet, or x-ray to see the sky in a completely different light. Or blend between these views to create unique visualizations on the fly.
- Galleries highlighting the best images from Hubble and many other telescopes.
- Current planet positions and constellations.
- Overlays of custom KML content. (Simply paste a Sky KML URL into the search box, just like on Google Maps.)
- Earth & Sky podcasts gallery, particularly useful for those who run a classroom.
While you’re exploring, try Google Mars and Google Moon, as well.
