Photos: Obama inauguration viewed from space

GeoEye-1 took this satellite photo of Barack Obama's inauguration ceremony. At left, crowd. At right, Capitol Building.

(Credit: GeoEye)

GeoEye-1, the satellite that will supply Google with high-resolution imagery of the Earth, took a high-resolution photograph of the inauguration of President Barack Obama.

The satellite is expected to start producing data for Google in coming weeks, but in the meantime, this shot shows a bit more tantalizing detail about what will show in Google Earth and Google Maps. It was taken from 423 miles up as the 4,300-pound satellite traveled 17,000 miles per hour.

GeoEye launched GeoEye-1 in September, and Google has exclusive rights to imagery for online use.

For a larger view, click on the bottom image, which we're publishing at one quarter the original resolution. The two smaller images are full-size crops.

Update 7:52 a.m. PST January 21: Google Earth users can view the photo through the software, according to Google's Lat Long blog. And GeoEye has added the image to CNN's Photosynth view of the inauguration.

GeoEye-1 took this satellite photo of Barack Obama's inauguration ceremony. Note the shape of the crowd gathered around the large-screen TV in upper right.

(Credit: GeoEye)

GeoEye-1 took this satellite photo of the Mall during Barack Obama's inauguration ceremony. Click to see a larger image.

(Credit: GeoEye)

[typefighter]

I think I found my wallet down there. Seriously, though, I wonder if this could help with estimating crowd sizes.

[BeamerMT]

Simply amazing :-)

[therix]

wow

[goblynn1013]

Is the full-size image available anywhere?

[nukepicnic]

people really DO look like ants at that height, huh?

[jackdaniels08]

The sure do look like ants from the POV. Next time I see a bunch of ants like that, I'm going to have to take a magifying glass to take a closer look and see if their is a swearing in ceremony going on down there of President OBugma. Right down the street is Capitol Ant Hill. BTW, Welcome President Barack Obama!

[themd]

Amazing!

[qtip99--2008]

Never has society seemed more like a large pack of insects...

[spamwarsdotcom]

When will someone Photoshop in the giant shoe or magnifying glass?

[sundance808]

this is A LOT BETTER than photosynth peddled by CNN and MS.

[sandor_f]

GeoEye has the image, in full resolution, downloadable at their website:

http://www.geoeye.com/CorpSite/gallery/image-viewer.aspx?m=h&iid=220&gid=1

[xyzzxy]

MSNBC has a zoomable interactive version:

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/28759812

[MotekDV]

The required viewer is not available for Macs. Thanks a bunch, MS.

[kaips4shizzo]

wow thats amazing! check out mo on obama on www.kaips4shizzo.blogspot.com

[madyb1948]

Unbelievable! Simply amazing! Thanks!!!

[linnetwoods]

Incredible images! It's so interesting to see what a scene previously viewed at ground level on streaming video looks like from above. Thanks for sharing them with us all :-)

[Andrew_Rose12]

Is it true that Washington has a population of under 1 million? If no, I'm going to be speaking to some publishers, if yes how the heck did they manage to bring so many additional people into the city, accommodate, feed and entertain them.
Well done the Us of A ... for the first time in a very long time I want to be where you guys are ...!

[wyomason]

Assuming that Washington streets run north and south and from the shadow cast by the Washington Monument, this picture must have been taken about 11 am. Right?

[OhioRealEstate]

That would suck to lose a contact...

[LwBrown5]

and NOT ONE arrest all day!!! (there was also a huge crowd at the Lincoln memorial, and more who weren't able to get thru security in time to be on he Mall...)

[kriss669]

See that purple blob against the fence? That's me!