No More Squinting: Google Maps' First High-Res Satellite Images
Using services like Google Maps and Google Earth has changed the way people interact with geography, compare notes with neighbors, and find their way from here to there.
Still, for all the beauty of Google's directions, "street view," and "search nearby," the top-down views of our world have always been a bit fuzzy and squint-inducing. Until now. Thanks to Google hitching a ride on GeoEye-1, that's all about to change. And today, we saw the first example of what's to come.
With access to the GeoEye-1 imagery, Google can now begin providing images for Google Maps and Google Earth that will boast a resolution of 50 cm. (That's just shy of two feet for you non-metric types.)
Wired has posted the first photo from GeoEye, and it's amazingly crisp.
Here's a comparison between the new satellite image and the current resolution (GeoEye-1 image, top):
Looking for more resolution than that? You're going to need to get security clearance. The US Federal Government restricts distribution of higher-resolution imagery, even though the image the satellite is capturing has a more detailed resolution (43 cm).
Currently, there is no specific date for when the imagery will be added to Google Maps and Google Earth.
One thing is for sure: When this new high-resolution imagery becomes available, Google Maps sightseeing will get a great deal more interesting.
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Looks great!
Coming from Australia though, I'd be asking questions about how they got their grass to look so green :)
MSFT birds eye is so much better, no metter how high the resolution is it will remain an overhead image.
every day will be more clearly(?)
but i am not sure it will be good or not :(
great, more and more clear, I love google maps.
I have to agree, while I'm not a MSFT fan in general, the tilted perspective of their "birds-eye view" makes things a LOT easier to interpret.
Peter
http://www.FlashlightWorthy.com
Recommending books so good, they'll keep you up past your bedtime. ;)
Very nice! Welcome to the new spy age
Looks Great! What a contrast!
You could have used Photo Shop to "line up the two images" using the left side foul line of the baseball fields as a guide. Luckily I am not afraid of heights!
Can I get an email when it flies over my area? I would like to plan something special!
Hey, can we do a "Worldwide Wave?
One Billion Man World Wide Wave Around the World! Yeah!