http://www.geoeye.com/CorpSite/gallery/Default.aspx
Google sponsored Google Eye satellite has returned its first pictures, which promise to bring even higher resolution to Google Earth/Maps. Another step forward in the commercialisation of, and public access to, space.
About 20-25 years ago I found a copy of any early home programming magasine called the Liverpool Software Gazette. In it was the listing a programme for the Apple II for Stargate - an app which let you view the starts near the earth as a 3D cube - or even watch the night-sky from Sirius. I didn't have an Apple, but did have a BBC Micro so I rewrote it for the Beeb and released it into the public domain. A few years later I bought an Atari ST an rewrote it again.
And now I've brought it bang up to date in Second Life. The Astrocube on Daden Prime is a big 3D box within which we can plot astronomical objects in 3D. We've already got it loaded with closest stars, brightest stars and exoplanets. The one I really liked though was the 100 closest galaxies. It gives a real sense of a) the distance between the galaxies and b) the huge galaxy clusters which are out there.
We'll be posting a video to YouTube and a URL shortly.
Andy why, after 20 years and the Internet is my best source of data still the star atlas which came with GDWs Traveller 2300AD RPG?
Pity that Falcon failed for the third time. Mind you I still can't help feeling that rockets like this are very C20 and by now we really ought to be onto the spaceplance versions such as the X prize winner (and soon to be Virgin Galactic) SpaceShipOne and the WhiteKnight 2 carrier vehicle (unveiled last week):
The video from the second failed launch is a great view of what its like going into space as a rocket - complete with stage and fairing separation. Pity it never made it to orbit either.
Good to see that the Mars Phoenix lander made it safely down. Nice photos. Now lets see if it finds water-ice below the surface.
BBC NEWS | Technology | Google backs private Moon landing
Search giant Google is offering a $30m prize pot to private firms that land a robot rover on the Moon.
The competition to send a robot craft to the Moon is being run with the X-Prize Foundation.
To claim the cash, any craft reaching the lunar surface must perform a series of tasks such as shoot video and roam for specific distances.
More cash will be given for snaps of old equipment left on the Moon
Firms interested in trying for the prize have until the end of 2012 to mount their Moonshot.
- That's what life should be about!
Now that's what I call a conference!
