The moon joins Google Earth

Monday 20 July 2009 | By Heidi Scott, Gosh! Media Copywriter

It was one small step for an Internet company but one giant leap for millions of web users when Google launched 'Moon in Google Earth' on Monday, the fortieth anniversary of the first moon landing.

On July 20 1969, the world held its breath as the Apollo 11 crew took those historic first lunar steps. Almost a billion people tuned in on live television or radio, which was about a quarter of the world's population at the time. Forty years on to the day, Google invited the global press to its launch of Moon in Google Earth, which took place at the Newseum interactive museum in Washington DC.

The new tool, viewable in Google Earth 5.0, is an interactive 3D atlas of the moon, developed as a result of a partnership between Google, NASA Ames Research and JAXA. Moon in Google Earth provides information about the moon in a unique three-dimensional context. It allows users to explore a virtual moonscape and follow guided tours from NASA heroes Buzz Aldrin (Apollo 11) and Jack Schmitt (Apollo 17). Other features include the latest moon rover concepts from teams competing in the Google Lunar X-PRIZE, high-resolution panoramic photos and previously unseen film of the moon's surface.

Heading up the guest list at the launch event was astronaut Buzz Aldrin, along with Andrew Chaikin (author of A Man on the Moon), NASA Deputy Administrator, Lori Garver, and space tourist, Anousheh Ansari. They were supported by Google Senior Vice President of Engineering, Alan Eustace, and Moon in Google Earth Product Manager, Michael Weiss-Malik.

Commented Weiss-Malik, "Forty years ago, two human beings walked on the moon. Starting today, with Moon in Google Earth, it's now possible for anyone to follow in their footsteps. We're giving hundreds of millions of people around the world unprecedented access to an interactive 3D presentation of the Apollo missions."

Ansari, the first female space tourist, added: "This tool will make it easier for millions of people to learn about space, our moon and some of the most significant and dazzling discoveries humanity has accomplished together."

Director of NASA Ames Research Center in California, Dr Simon 'Pete' Worden, stated, "Today's announcement builds on the ongoing relationship with Google that Ames Research Center initiated in November 2006 when we signed a Space Act Agreement to foster collaboration with our Silicon Valley neighbor. We're excited to be a part of this latest chapter in Google's efforts to bring virtual exploration of the moon to anyone with a computer."

According to Google's Press Centre, the following layers can be explored in Moon in Google Earth:

Featured satellite imagery – users can explore overlaid satellite images and detailed descriptions of selected areas on the moon from Arizona State University's 'Lunar Image of the Week'.

Spacecraft imagery – selected imagery captured by the Apollo Metric Camera, Clementine, and the Lunar Orbiter can be viewed.

Apollo missions – Moon in Google Earth users can travel back to the Apollo era and discover the landing sites of missions 11 to 17. 'Street View'-style panoramic images can be seen and there's also previously unreleased footage from spacecraft films.

Guided tours – Tours of the moon are narrated by Apollo astronauts Buzz Aldrin and Jack Schmitt.

Historic maps – Geologic and topographic maps of the moon that were used by mission control in the Apollo era can be examined.

Human artefacts – Users can see the kind of exploratory equipment that man has left on the moon. Artefacts from the United States, the Soviet Union, China, the EU, Japan and India are included, with some of them viewable as 3D models.

To enjoy the immersive experience of Moon in Google Earth, users simply need to switch mode from 'earth' to 'moon' on the top toolbar of Google Earth 5.0.

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