TED shows us the first video demo of the WorldWide Telescope, a free technology that lets you visually explore and experience the universe from the desktop.
Microsoft has taken some of the best images from the various satellites and telescopes of the world and woven them seamlessly to produce a most comprehensive view of the universe.
You can choose from a growing number of guided tours of the sky by astronomers and educators from some of the most famous observatories and planetariums in the country. They say its like navigating the universe on a magical carpet.
Microsoft Research is dedicating WorldWide Telescope to the memory of Jim Gray and is releasing WWT as a free resource to the astronomy and education communities with the hope that it will inspire and empower people to explore and understand the universe like never before.
You can also download WorldWide Telescope on your desktop from WorldWideTelescope.org.
Other than English, WorldWide Telescope is also available in Simplified Chinese, German and Spanish langagues for both Mac and PC. Thanks Long.
Find this article at: http://www.labnol.org/software/download/video-demo-microsoft-worldwide-telescope-universe/2434/
Tags: Archives, microsoft research, worldwide telescope, Downloads, Software
Reader Comments
Wow ! Really amazing piece of software . I will be waiting for its release .
Written by Leo on 02.28.08
When I was a kid I tend to be amazed by the night sky and I tend to have a lot of question that no-one could answer.I am major in Math and was lucky enough to have a chance and take astronomy at York University. I can not wait to be able to explorer the WWT. I have a son that is 18 months old and already shown interest in Computer [he knows how to operate the mouse and when to left click] and astronomy.
Written by Mehrdad on 05.09.08
The worldwide telescope will be Bill Gate’s finest legacy – I am past my prime and I know nothing of space, yet everytime I look up I am awestruck with the nights sky. The worldwide telescope will enlighten, inspire and lead to new discoveries. Kudos to Microsoft. You are bestowing a gift to the world that will be forever rewarding. Thank you.
Written by Paul Dyson on 05.14.08
More proprietary “Windows-only” crap from Microsoft. Don’t get me wrong, I think this is an awesome project and a great educational tool, but that’s exactly what makes the fact that Microsoft is limiting it to their OS even worse. All Microsoft wants is for people to say “Oh, look, that’s cool!” and buy a Windows computer so they can use it. Celestia and Stellarium are two awesome programs I use that do similar things, but it would be great if Microsoft would actually do something that isn’t primarily for profit. Bill Gates’ finest legacy? More like his final business venture.
Written by macfan777 on 06.04.08
This is identical to the Universe mode in Google Earth. What’s the big deal?
Written by Greg on 07.13.08