04 February 2009 | Author: Yasmin Sulaiman

Earth, Sky and now Mars - where next for Google?

Google's approach to mapping the earth, seas and skies seems to be very similar to its search strategy: it's an attitude that reeks of the desire for total domination. And if you were in any doubt before of Google's deific ability to give ordinary people unprecedented access to 3D maps and images of the universe, think again - this week's beta release of Google Earth 5.0 proves just how far the online colossus is willing to extend its horizons.

As well as adding a few new tools to its standard Earth offering - such as historical city maps, accessed through a clock icon that lets you turn back time on screen - by far its two most intriguing tools are Ocean layers and Google Mars 3D.

Ocean in Google Earth lets users explore sea floor landscapes, offering images of exotic marine life, shipwrecks and other underwater geological features. Marine life buffs are given due attention through a National Geographic Magazine geo-quiz and never before seen videos from the archives of intrepid sea explorer Jacques Cousteau.

Only two days after release, the project has already received a lot of favourable attention, from scientists and oceanographers as well as environmentalists and general geography fans. Partners on the project include the BBC, the Cousteau Society, the Marine Conservation Society and the National Geographic Society.



















Steve Miller, product manager for Ocean in Google Earth, said: "The ocean covers the vast majority of our planet, but I, like the vast majority of people on our planet, know relatively little about it. We now have the opportunity to gather and organize information, photos, and videos from scientists, NGOs, and individuals around the world in one place and let users around the world explore the ocean, get to know it, and hopefully be inspired to help protect it. Anyone with a computer will be able to go places that no person has ever been - that's pretty amazing."

Equally amazing is Google Mars 3D, a project developed with NASA's help, through which users can see high resolution 3D imagery of Mars' topography. Other features include information on the Apollo moon landings, the ability to view where Mars Rovers and Landers have touched down and an application that lets you fly to the top of Olympus Mons, the tallest volcano in our solar system.



















The Google Sky feature in Earth may have captured the public imagination following its 2007 release; however, Google Mars builds on its features in a much more specific way that's certain to appeal to any conspiracy theorists or fledgling astronauts who might want to take a closer look at the red planet to establish its capability for sustaining life.

But these new releases do beg the question - where next for Google? Will we see the launch of Google Jupiter before the decade is out? Or perhaps they'll add "future imagery" layers on major global cities, predicting the likely turn our landscape may take. One thing's for sure: as an educational - and entertainment - tool, Google Earth has few rivals, and if there are other solar systems to be discovered, the Mountain View giants could well be the first to bring us the pictures.

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