WorldWide Telescope Launches Into Space

May 13th, 2008 Posted in News

For all of the budding amateur astronomers out there, a vast array of galaxies and nebulae are now at their fingertips. Microsoft has just launched its WorldWide Telescope application allowing everyone to access images of the night sky. The application uses images from some of the most advanced telescopes around the world, and even those in orbit. Pictures from the Hubble space telescope are now viewable, giving the amateur enthusiast more information on the universe than ever before.

It is hoped the application will act as a platform to enthuse and excite young astronomers about the movements of planets and the world of astrophysics more generally. To have access to this system all you must do is download the application and as long as you are running on Windows OS you should be able to view the marvels of our galaxy and beyond.

Users will be able to view images of the moon, explore alien planets and the large number of celestial bodies that constantly surround us. It is even possible to see the same image through a number of different telescopes along a number of wavelengths. Added to the images, experts have provided tours and commentary on various attractions and processes that are visible. Bill Gates declared it as an ‘educational tool’ that would hopefully inspire ‘young people to explore astronomy and science’.

Microsoft are not the only providers of such a service, Google released an add-on to their Google Earth application that performs much the same purpose. While these rival applications may have beaten Microsoft to the release of such a system, with the large backing of the software company, WorldWide Telescope is sure to become a common icon on many computer users’ desktops.