Google Earth event hints at moon mapping

One of the images returned by NASA's Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter--coming soon to Google Earth?

(Credit: NASA)

At least the residents of the moon are unlikely to be annoyed by the Google Street View car.

Google announced plans Thursday to hold a press conference on July 20 in Washington, D.C., to discuss "a very special announcement about the newest addition to Google Earth," according to an invitation sent to reporters. Further details were not included, but it's not too hard to guess what Google might be up to here.

July 20 is the 40th anniversary of the Apollo 11 moon landing. One of the men who set foot on the moon that day, Buzz Aldrin, will speak at the event, as will Andrew Chaikin, author of "A Man on the Moon." And NASA's launch of the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter in June has yielded all kinds of new detailed images of the moon's surface.

Google already offers a limited overhead view of the moon that highlights the sites of the Apollo landings, but it seems more detailed maps could be in the works as part of the ongoing partnership between Google and NASA. All kidding aside, Street View for the moon is probably not on the agenda, although those lunar rovers are still up there.

[MyRightEye]

I want to see the moon landing sites with equipment intact.

[a_flores]

That's also the thing I want to see. Is there still the ruins of Apollo or it was cover by the sand storm? Interesting.

[donsms]

sandstorm?

[codynews]

Is it Google that's "mapping" the moon? I mean do they have their own sattalites up there snapping picture? Or are they just collecting data and putting it on their webpage. Seems like a big difference.<br /><br />At least with Street view it's GOOGLE (or a company they hired) that's driving around in their little google mobiles.<br /><br />Cody

[cokuhne]

why???

[ralfthedog]

Because it is incredibly cool.

[GKrynen]

I wonder if Google will have a directions link to get from here to the moon? Might be tricky with the moon moving all the time.

[lvcsslacker]

dynamic directions? sounds good. it's a TSP problem, level 2. Hahahahaha.

[Seaspray0]

That's the same question I was going to ask. They used to do directions between New York and Paris. It was quite humorous since the directions actually stated you must swim for over 1000 miles. I also wonder if it will give gps coordinates (elevation ???).

[ralfthedog]

It would be fun if they would map Earth streets onto the Moon. "If I lived on the Moon, this rock would be my house."

[Sporlo]

haha nice. That actually would be pretty interesting.

[Seaspray0]

Just to set things straight... Neil Armstrong invented the Moon Walk before Michael Jackson. &lt;rant! LOL&gt;

[GEO2003]

OH MY, OH MY - Finally a story that brings people together in Humurus way at Cnet, instead of arguing about Apple, Microsoft, Google, Bot attacks. <br /> <br />By gosh, I am so glad people like you guys commenting here still have a sence of humor. <br /> <br />Seaspray - I got it, Moom Walk (space in between) and Moonwalk - Michael Jackson's legacy move. <br /> <br />I hope we can continue to come together in our comments FOR OR AGAINST, respecting each other's right to comment without insulting others and bringing valid points on all issues to the table. <br /> <br />Geo

[monkeyfun14]

Shhh Shhh you'll jinx it

[Zakynthos]

did they really land on the moon? you'll be surprised. And if they did land on the moo,n how come there hasn't been a single moon landing SINCE ???????????????

[Haldemar]

Wow...it took 13 comments before the crazies started to come out with the "Did we REALLY land on the moon?" <br /> <br />Did you REALLY post that comment or was it the government simulating people so that it can stay in power since we all know that the humans died off 50 years ago... <br /> <br />Sheesh :-)

[harris-son]

were you ever sucessful in seeing this?

[skyscraperjim]

OK since there haven't been many serious comments on this story yet I'll add mine.<br /><br />The world is certainly in need of a new lunar atlas. We've had some decent lunar atlases published in recent years, but they seem to have all gone out of print just as fast as they have come along. There is also a Moon globe you can get from Sky &#38; Telescope, but it don't contain a lot of detail (you're pretty limited with a 30cm sphere). I've always wanted to make my own photographic atlas of the Moon, but I need to reside at a site that has unobstructed eastern and western horizons and it would have to be a multi-year project (given all possible phases of the moon, different librations, and apogee/perigee variations, not to mention weather restrictions). A Google Lunar Atlas would be the perfect solution to these issues.<br /><br />I watched live the LRO/LCROSS launch a couple of weeks back with great excitement. I'm guessing the new Google Lunar Atlas would be using this new data. To answer the first question, the lunar landing sites and equipment left by US and Soviet missions should be observable by LRO.<br /><br />I have met Andy Chaiken as well as Apollo 12 astronaut Alan Bean (who I will be seeing again next month at Stellafane) and have autographed copies of their books. <br /><br />I'm hoping this Google venture will get more people seriously interested in science and space exploration.

[LokiFreeman]

Google is doing this in partnership with NASA? That means the same airbrushed cover up photos that hide the ancient ruins, alien bases, and ufo's that NASA already puts out now. Whoopee. Big deal.