Cool Satellite map program

[craigster59]

I don't know how many of you are aware that Google has a free satellite map/address locator program. You can find roads, restaraunts and lodging. It's alot of fun to play with too.
earth.google.com

[targa911S]

Yeah I ran out of addresses I wanted to see from space last night. pretty cool. I have been shopping real estate in PA from FL and it's neat to look at property from space to see the lay of the land.

[island911]

The (original, i think) version is NASA's World_Wind.

Pretty cool when you find out it's 3-D topo.

[bryanthompson]

dupe
New google Maps software (GPS Marker requests also)

[71T Targa]

Looks like they are no longer allowing downloads?!?!?

[Moneyguy1]

Yes...but remember: NASA people should be sent home. The space program is a big waste of money. We should be spending the money right here on earth rather than taking all that cash, puttiing it in nosecones and then into orbit.

Sheesh...

Tongue firmly in cheek. reference to another thread

[bryanthompson]

I think most of this data is provided by private companies, although I could be mistaken.

DigitalGlobe is building a constellation of high-resolution earth imaging satellites and a comprehensive geo-information product store -- DigitalGlobe.com -- that allows you to quickly access and order a wide variety of imagery and derivative information products, including our 70-centimeter panchromatic and 2.8-meter multispectral imagery--the highest resolution satellite imagery available commercially. All together, our data sources will represent the market's most robust collection of up-to-date spatial information.

[Moneyguy1]

byran..

Not to belabor a point, but where do you think the private companies got their technology in the first place? How many of those satellites have gone into orbit aboard NASA rockets?

[bryanthompson]

I'm sorry, did you get the impression that I have a problem with nasa? I have no problem with nasa. I think it shoud exist as a research facility, whose findings can be applied by private industry.

[Moneyguy1]

And that is precisely what happens. Most of the discoveries go into the public sector. Next time you power up your GPS....