Microsoft has launched a public beta of its WorldWide Telescope software. Basically, WorldWide Telescope is like Google Earth or Virtual Earth for the sky. It's a desktop application that lets you browse astronomical photos stitched together.
There's more than a terabyte of high resolution imagery available, but you don't need a massive hard drive to access it since WorldWide Telescope connects to an internet server and just downloads the images you need. If you have a broadband connection, the downloads are quick enough to make you feel like you're scrolling across one large image. You can also zoom in and out to get a better look at the nebula of your choosing.
But WorldWide Telescope has a few more tricks up its sleeve. You can take guided tours, which are narrated by astronomers and teachers. You can join "communities," which are currently maintained by several astronomy magazines. Community members will have access to exclusive tours and other content. And if you have your own telescope, you can connect to to your computer and control it with WorldWide Telescope.
[via CNet]
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