Mapping the Universe

July 20, 1969 marked the day man landed on the moon, and on July 20, 2005, the 36th anniversary, Google decided to commemorate this monumental feat of human ingenuity by launching Google Moon, giving people worldwide access to the images, exploration, and adventure that Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin experienced (well almost). Google Moon offers both 2d and 3d views of Earth’s moon, and includes useful and informative data about geological features of the moon such as craters or fissures, as well as high resolution images and video taken by space vehicles, and information about the Apollo Space missions.

Google Sky became Google’s second digital exploration endeavor on August 27, 2007. This time, Google decided the sky really was the limit (Space joke!). Google Sky is much different than Google Earth, Google Moon, or Google Mars, because it’s an almost endless project, and will most likely be a continuing endeavor as better technology allows us to see further into space. Currently you can travel through, and look at millions of light years of space while viewing data and images of constellations, stars, planets, galaxies and more! The imagery is breathtaking, and the data astonishing.

In addition to Google Sky being available online, and in Google Earth, Google Sky is also available as an app for Android phones. The App uses the phone’s compass, GPS location, and time to accurately provide a moving skymap that you can use as a guide to the galaxy, but fits in the palm of your hands. Get this, you’re on a date, staring at the stars, and POW! you pull out your handy dandy android device and impress your date with your astrological ninja skills.

Google Mars was released February 2, 2009 in Google Earth’s 5th version, the most recent of the intergalactic Google Products. There’s not as much data or imaging on this one, but that’s to be expected with the limited amount of exploration we’ve done on Mars. It does still include high resolution images, Rover and Lander data, and guided tours of Mars!

We may be no closer to discovering the meaning of life, but through the use of these awesome tools we can explore the universe, gain perspective, and hopefully one day: Optimize Google Places Listings for the Moon.

“The universe is a big place, perhaps the biggest.”

Kurt Vonnegut