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Say 'Cheese' to Google Satellite at 10AM

Posted by CmdrTaco on from the not-for-the-lactose-intolerant dept.

13.7BillionYears writes "Google's recent purchase of Keyhole and its jaw-dropping 3D earth-browsing software has apparently netted them ownership of an imaging satellite as well, now named 'gSat.' This Friday, April 1st, gSat will be capturing a new dataset (neighborhood of 1meter/pixel), passing over each time zone between 10 and 11AM. If you stand outside and wave you will supposedly show up as a blurry fleck. Even better news is that the dataset will be available within months not only to Keyhole but also to the equally jaw-dropping and open source NASA World Wind. It all seems aimed at answering a question that has plagued mankind for ages: What foolishness can we wreak upon the Earth on the Day of Fools with only 3 days' notice? I'm guessing the obscene stuff will be Photoshopped out. Thanks to the World Wind Forum for the tip and let's hope those April showers come late."

8 of 221 comments (clear)

  1. If... by BlueCodeWarrior · · Score: 4, Insightful

    ...you only show up as a 'blurry fleck,' how are you supposed to do something obscene?

    1. Re:If... by mattmentecky · · Score: 2, Insightful

      You are being blurred out because you are DOING something obscene....duh.

  2. gSat by acb · · Score: 4, Insightful

    If they're capturing all of each timezone at 10-11AM of each day, gSat must either be shaped like a curved tube stretching from pole to pole, or orbiting the earth from pole to pole once every hour.

    1. Re:gSat by parkrrrr · · Score: 2, Insightful

      Also, Google must have arranged for clear skies over the entire globe.

  3. Real news by RaguMS · · Score: 2, Insightful

    What happens if some real news happens today? Nobody will believe it.

  4. Note to April Foolers... by digitalamish · · Score: 2, Insightful

    Your 'pranks' would be much more effective if there was an actual article to link to.
    --
    "Stop reading slashdot, and get back to work!" - my boss

  5. Lay Down! by CrazyWingman · · Score: 2, Insightful

    Dude - lay down and wave! Then you'll end up as ~2 blurry flecks, not just one! ;)

  6. Re:Gotta love April 1st by jvj24601 · · Score: 2, Insightful

    For the past three years, I've sent suggestions to The Onion that on April 1st, they should report real news (Reuters and AP stories, etc). I think it'd be great to see their take on what constitutes absurd in the real press. And it'd be damn funny if they could locate real stories that were goofy enough for people to think they were true Onion parodies.

    But does anyone ever listen to me? Oh well. Another year, another wasted opportunity...