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It's a big universe...
March 19, 2008

So bring a map. On this larger scale, a good option would be Google Sky, your friendly map of the cosmos. Previously only available through the downloaded Google Earth application, Google Sky is now on the web for easier access (no installations required!).

Navigating the map is quite simple. You can scroll around, zooming in and out as you see something interesting, or jump straight to a celestial destination by searching. A bottom toolbar provides access to a number of guided tours that showcase interesting objects in the sky. The site includes quite a bit of additional information: you can view the heavens in "normal" light, infrared or microwave. You can also explore historical star charts.

All around, quite an exciting way to explore the stars. Living in a small town, I get to see more of the stars than those of you living in heavily light-polluted cities, but a street lamp right in front of our house makes things a bit more difficult for easy viewing. Google Sky also makes exploration possible any time!

Posted by Chris Harris on March 19, 2008 | Comments (0)