Microsoft Launches WorldWide Telescope

esocid writes "WorldWide Telescope, developed by Microsoft's research arm, knits together images from the Hubble Space Telescope, the Chandra X-Ray Observatory Center, the Sloan Digital Sky Survey, and others. Windows users (only) can browse through the galaxy on their own or take guided tours of different outer-space destinations developed by astronomers and academics. The application allows viewing from different wavelengths such as X-ray, visible light, and hydrogen-alpha radiation. Business Week has a review and some background on the project, which has been in development for years. Google Sky beat them to the punch but Business Week opines that WWT's interface is superior."

Comments

Re:Good to see

[NotBornYesterday]

... is releasing WWT as a free resource to the astronomy and education communities ... It ain't free if you have to buy Windows to use it.

Re:Good

[zappepcs]

Yes, time for a Mac only version??? right?

Seriously, even if it was donated to the public domain and free as in beer/speech, the value is tarnished when the people they claim to want to help would rather spend the money for the OS/pc ($400 bucks or whatever it is now) on something for their hobby... like telescopes, cameras, tracking equipment etc. These hobby markets are full of people that do NOT have money laying around like businesses often do.

MS did the same with robotics... no matter how noble the gesture, they COMPLETELY missed the mark with their targeted market.

Seriously, why would I begin to believe that MS is out for anything other than fucking over the consumers they pretend to want as customers?

Re:A UFO fanatic writes...

[sm62704]

I added some links to your comment.

Microsoft have been guilty of shafting their customers for years, now the rest of the galaxy is going to pay as Microsoft extends it's malfeasance outwards into the cosmos. What have the aliens ever done to deserve this... anal probing? Has Ballmer discussed his vengence with shareholders?

"God damned motherfucking piece of fucked up shit!!!" ~ Mother Theresa on Microsoft (Excised from Uncyclopedia's entry on Microsoft, probably by some humorless astroturfer)

"Where do you want to go today?" ~ Microsoft

But Can It See Why John McCain Sounds Lame

[Anonymous Coward]

on global warming? McCain should find a shuffleboard court in Flordia and stay there. P.S. Are you ready for the Iran War in September when BushCo will release the U.S. strategic oil reserve? I am. My bunker has solar panels.

Re:Web 2.0?

[ceoyoyo]

Yeah, the interface kind of sucks. At least with Google Sky you get a picture, and can pan and zoom it. This MS thing doesn't give me a picture at all! On my Mac, of course.