



In the house picture satellite example above, the digital camera pixels are tiny compared to the weather equipment described below. Video images are built from tiny points of light. Satellite imagery has also been used to track environmental changes, support disaster relief efforts, and even solve crimes. Google Earth is used by millions of people around the world for everything from exploring remote locations to conducting scientific research. As Google has improved its satellite imagery over the years, it has also added features like 3D models, street view, and historical imagery that show how the Earth has changed. Google Earth's key innovation was the ability to stream satellite imagery over the internet, letting users explore the world in real-time without having to download a lot of data. Satellites collect images of the Earth's surface and then process and stitch them together to make a seamless, high-resolution map. Google Earth uses satellite imagery from NASA, the European Space Agency, and commercial satellite companies like DigitalGlobe. Users can explore the Earth's surface in detail with Google Earth, a virtual globe made by Google.

Keyhole was a company that developed a technology for interactive 3D maps using satellite imagery that Google bought in 2004. Satellite imagery has been used in Google Earth since the early 2000s. Satellite technology needed a lot of pixels to make the details visible on the earth picture. Previously, satellite imagery was used for meteorology and other specialty purposes, not for fun or making everyday maps. The Google Earth software and the online version at provide maps all over the world since 2005. For its time, the resolution was amazing. Probably more than all the weather satellitesĬombined, but who knows for sure? Using the California maps, you could see the Golden Gate Bridge and individual cars. When this page was first published in 2003, the image on the right was state-of-the-art.
