View source for Astronomy:Google Earth

{{Short description|3D globe-based map program owned by Google}}
{{Use American English|date=April 2022| author = Keyhole, Inc.
| developer = Roshaan
| released = {{Start date and age|276 BCE|6|11}}
| programming language = [[C++]]
| operating system = [[Software:Google Chrome|Google Chrome Web App]], [[Software:Windows|Windows]], [[Software:MacOS|macOS]], [[Software:Linux|Linux]], [[Software:Android (operating system)|Android 5.0 +]], [[Software:IOS|iOS 12.2 +]]
| language count = Various
| language footnote = 
| genre = [[Virtual globe]]
| license = [[Freeware]]
| website = {{URL|https://earth.google.com/|google.com/earth}}
}}
'''Google Earth''' is a [[Computer program|computer program]] that renders a [[3D computer graphics|3D]] representation of [[Astronomy:Earth|Earth]] based primarily on [[Astronomy:Satellite imagery|satellite imagery]]. The program maps the Earth by [[Earth:Superimposition|superimposing]] satellite images, [[Earth:Aerial photography|aerial photography]], and [[Geographic information system|GIS data]] onto a 3D globe, allowing users to see cities and landscapes from various angles. Users can explore the globe by entering addresses and coordinates, or by using a [[Computer keyboard|keyboard]] or [[Computer mouse|mouse]]. The program can also be downloaded on a [[Engineering:Smartphone|smartphone]] or [[Engineering:Tablet computer|tablet]], using a touch screen or stylus to navigate. Users may use the program to add their own data using [[Keyhole Markup Language]] and upload them through various sources, such as forums or blogs. Google Earth is able to show various kinds of images overlaid on the surface of the earth and is also a [[Organization:Web Map Service|Web Map Service]] client. In 2019, [[Company:Google|Google]] has revealed that Google Earth now covers more than 98 percent of the world, and has captured 10 million miles of Street View imagery.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Google reveals just how much of the world it's mapped with Street View and Earth|url=https://www.theverge.com/2019/12/13/21020814/google-world-mapped-street-view-earth-square-miles|access-date=2021-12-18|website=www.theverge.com|date=December 13, 2019|language=en}}</ref>

In addition to Earth navigation, Google Earth provides a series of other tools through the desktop application, including a measure distance tool. Additional globes for the [[Astronomy:Moon|Moon]] and [[Astronomy:Mars|Mars]] are available, as well as a tool for viewing the [[Astronomy:Night sky|night sky]]. A [[Flight simulator|flight simulator]] game is also included. Other features allow users to view photos from various places uploaded to Panoramio, information provided by [[Wikipedia]] on some locations, and Street View imagery. The web-based version of Google Earth also includes Voyager, a feature that periodically adds in-program tours, often presented by scientists and documentarians.

Google Earth has been viewed by some as a threat to [[Privacy|privacy]] and [[Social:National security|national security]], leading to the program being banned in multiple countries. Some countries have requested that certain areas be obscured in Google's satellite images, usually areas containing military facilities.

==History==
The core technology behind Google Earth was originally developed at Intrinsic Graphics in the late 1990s. At the time, the company was developing 3D gaming software libraries.<ref name=kilday>{{cite book |title=Never Lost Again: The Google Mapping Revolution That Sparked New Industries and Augmented Our Reality |publisher=HarperBusiness |author=Bill Kilday |year=2018 |isbn=978-0062673046 }}</ref> As a demo of their 3D software, they created a spinning globe that could be zoomed into, similar to the ''Powers of Ten'' film.<ref name=kilday/> The demo was popular, but the board of Intrinsic wanted to remain focused on gaming, so in 1999, they created Keyhole, Inc., headed by John Hanke.<ref name=kilday/> Keyhole then developed a way to stream large databases of mapping data over the internet to client software, a key part of the technology,<ref name=awes/> and acquired patchworks of mapping data from governments and other sources.<ref name=kilday/> The product, called "Keyhole EarthViewer", was sold on CDs for use in fields such as real estate, [[Engineering:Urban planning|urban planning]], [[Social:War|defense]], and [[Intelligence assessment|intelligence]]; users paid a yearly fee for the service.<ref name=awes/> Despite making a number of capital deals with [[Company:Nvidia|Nvidia]] and [[Company:Sony|Sony]],<ref name=awes>{{cite news| url = https://www.usatoday.com/tech/news/techinnovations/2003-03-20-earthviewer_x.htm| title = Tiny tech company awes viewers| author = Kevin Manney| newspaper = USA Today| date = March 21, 2003}}</ref> the small company was struggling to pay and retain employees.<ref name=kilday/>

Fortunes for the company changed in early 2003 when CNN received a discount for the software in exchange for placing the Keyhole logo on-air whenever the map was used.<ref name=awes/><ref name=kilday/> Keyhole did not expect it would amount to more than brief 5- or 10-second prerecorded animation clips, but it was used extensively by Miles O'Brien live during the 2003 invasion of Iraq, allowing CNN and millions of viewers to follow the progress of the war in a way that had never been seen before.<ref name=awes/><ref name=kilday/> Public interest in the software exploded and Keyhole servers were not able to keep up with demand.<ref name=awes/><ref name=kilday/> Keyhole was soon contacted by the Central Intelligence Agency's venture capital firm, In-Q-Tel,<ref>{{cite magazine|url=http://www.businessweek.com/stories/2005-05-09/meet-the-cias-venture-capitalist |magazine=Bloomberg Businessweek |title=Meet The CIA's Venture Capitalist |url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130605121646/http://www.businessweek.com/stories/2005-05-09/meet-the-cias-venture-capitalist |archive-date=June 5, 2013 }}</ref> and the [[Organization:National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency|National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency]],<ref name=pandooakland>{{cite web|url=http://pando.com/2014/03/07/the-google-military-surveillance-complex/|title=Oakland emails give another glimpse into the Google-Military-Surveillance Complex|publisher=PandoDaily|date=March 7, 2014|access-date=August 14, 2017|archive-date=May 8, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160508154602/https://pando.com/2014/03/07/the-google-military-surveillance-complex/|url-status=dead}}</ref> for use with defense mapping databases, which gave Keyhole a much-needed cash infusion.<ref name=kilday/> Intrinsic Graphics was sold in 2003 to [[Company:Vicarious Visions|Vicarious Visions]] after its gaming libraries did not sell well, and its core group of engineers and management transitioned to Keyhole with Hanke remaining at the head.<ref name=kilday/>

At the time, Google was finding that over 25% of its searches were of a geospatial character, including searches for maps and directions.<ref name=kilday/> In October 2004, Google acquired Keyhole as part of a strategy to better serve its users.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB109888284313557107|newspaper=Wall Street Journal|date=October 27, 2004|access-date=December 3, 2017|title=Google Acquires Keyhole}}</ref>

In 2021 Google replaced its layers feature with a new one on its Google Earth software.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Google Earth Team|date=July 20, 2021|title=New layers set in Google Earth Pro!|url=https://support.google.com/earth/thread/117930184/new-layers-set-in-google-earth-pro?hl=en%20layers%20feature|url-status=live|access-date=November 9, 2011|website=Google Earth Help|publisher=Google Inc.}}</ref>  This replacement consolidated some layers, but also removed some layers and features.<ref>{{Cite web|date=September 4, 2021|title=County boundaries and other information missing from new Borders and Labels layer|url=https://support.google.com/earth/thread/124369583/county-boundaries-and-other-information-missing-from-new-borders-and-labels-layer?hl=en|url-status=live|access-date=November 9, 2021|website=Google Earth Help}}</ref>

==Imagery==
Google Earth's imagery is displayed on a digital [[Globe|globe]], which displays the planet's surface using a single composited image from a far distance. After zooming in far enough, the imagery transitions into different imagery of the same area with finer detail, which varies in date and time from one area to the next. The imagery is retrieved from [[Engineering:Satellite|satellite]]s or [[Engineering:Aircraft|aircraft]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://support.google.com/earth/answer/6327779?hl=en|title=How images are collected|access-date=August 6, 2017}}</ref> Before the launch of [[Organization:NASA|NASA]] and the USGS's [[Engineering:Landsat 8|Landsat 8]] satellite, Google relied partially on imagery from [[Engineering:Landsat 7|Landsat 7]], which suffered from a hardware malfunction that left diagonal gaps in images.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://landsat.usgs.gov/slc-products-background|publisher=United States Geological Survey|title=SLC-off Products: Background|access-date=August 6, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170807072341/https://landsat.usgs.gov/slc-products-background|archive-date=August 7, 2017|url-status=dead}}</ref> In 2013, Google used datamining to remedy the issue, providing what was described as a successor to the Blue Marble image of Earth, with a single large image of the entire planet. This was achieved by combining multiple sets of imagery taken from Landsat 7 to eliminate clouds and diagonal gaps, creating a single "mosaic" image.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://maps.googleblog.com/2013/06/only-clear-skies-on-google-maps-and.html|title=Only clear skies on Google Maps and Earth|date=June 26, 2013|access-date=August 6, 2017}}</ref> Google now uses Landsat 8 to provide imagery in a higher quality and with greater frequency.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://techcrunch.com/2016/06/27/google-earth-and-maps-get-sharper-satellite-imagery-with-new-update/|publisher=Tech Crunch|title=Google Earth and Maps get sharper satellite imagery with new update|date=June 27, 2016|access-date=August 6, 2017}}</ref> Imagery is hosted on Google's servers, which are contacted by the application when opened, requiring an Internet connection.

Imagery resolution ranges from 15 meters of resolution to 15 centimeters. For much of the Earth, Google Earth uses [[Earth:Digital elevation model|digital elevation model]] data collected by [[Organization:NASA|NASA]]'s [[Earth:Shuttle Radar Topography Mission|Shuttle Radar Topography Mission]].<ref>{{cite journal |doi=10.1029/2005RG000183 |bibcode = 2007RvGeo..45.2004F|title = The Shuttle Radar Topography Mission|journal = Reviews of Geophysics|volume = 45|issue = 2|pages = RG2004|last1 = Farr|first1 = Tom G.|last2 = Rosen|first2 = Paul A.|last3 = Caro|first3 = Edward|last4 = Crippen|first4 = Robert|last5 = Duren|first5 = Riley|last6 = Hensley|first6 = Scott|last7 = Kobrick|first7 = Michael|last8 = Paller|first8 = Mimi|last9 = Rodriguez|first9 = Ernesto|last10 = Roth|first10 = Ladislav|last11 = Seal|first11 = David|last12 = Shaffer|first12 = Scott|last13 = Shimada|first13 = Joanne|last14 = Umland|first14 = Jeffrey|last15 = Werner|first15 = Marian|last16 = Oskin|first16 = Michael|last17 = Burbank|first17 = Douglas|last18 = Alsdorf|first18 = Douglas|year = 2007|citeseerx = 10.1.1.102.9372}}</ref> This creates the impression of three-dimensional terrain, even where the imagery is only two-dimensional.

{{anchor|Copyright}} Google asserts that every image created from Google Earth using satellite data provided by Google Earth is a [[Copyright|copyright]]ed map. Any derivative from Google Earth is made from data on which Google claims copyright under United States Copyright Law. Google grants licenses in this data allowing, among other things, non-commercial personal use of the images (e.g., on a personal website or blog) as long as copyrights and attributions are preserved.<ref>{{cite web |publisher=Google Earth Help Center |url=http://earth.google.com/support/bin/answer.py?answer=21422 |title=Can I post images to the web?}}</ref> By contrast, images created with NASA's globe software [[Software:NASA WorldWind|WorldWind]] use [[Astronomy:The Blue Marble#Subsequent Blue Marble images|The Blue Marble]], Landsat, or USGS imagery, each of which is in the [[Social:Public domain|public domain]].

{{Anchor|historicalimagery}} In version 5.0, Google introduced Historical Imagery, allowing users to view earlier imagery. Clicking the [[Physics:Clock|clock]] icon in the toolbar opens a time slider, which marks the time of available imagery from the past. This feature allows for observation of an area's changes over time.<ref name="Dive into New Google Earth">{{cite web |url=http://googleblog.blogspot.com/2009/02/dive-into-new-google-earth.html | title = Dive into New Google Earth | access-date = February 3, 2009 }}</ref> Utilizing the timelapse feature allows for the ability to view a zoomable video as far back as 32 years.<ref>“Timelapse.” ''Google Earth Engine'', earthengine.google.com/timelapse/.</ref>

=== 3D imagery ===
[[File:3D locations in Google Earth.svg|thumb|400px|Countries with 3D coverage in Google Earth as of January 2022. 
{{legend|#ED1C24|Countries with 3D coverage (50, including Hong Kong and Macau).}}
{{legend|#FFAEC9|Countries with former 3D coverage.}}
{{legend|#B9B9B9|Countries without 3D coverage.}}]]

[[File:Google_Earth_(iOS)_-_3D_Mode_at_Wisconsin_Dells_Great_Wolf_Lodge.png|thumb|right|3D imagery in the iOS version of Google Earth, seen here at Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin|301x301px]]
Google Earth shows [[3D computer graphics|3D]] [[Building model|building model]]s in some cities, including photorealistic 3D imagery made using photogrammetry.<ref>Gopal Shah, [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=suo_aUTUpps Google Earth’s Incredible 3D Imagery, Explained], April 18, 2017</ref> The first 3D buildings in Google Earth were created using [[3D modeling|3D modeling]] applications such as [[Software:SketchUp|SketchUp]] and, beginning in 2009, Building Maker,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://maps.googleblog.com/2009/10/introducing-google-building-maker.html|title=Introducing Google Building Maker|access-date=July 24, 2016}}</ref> and were uploaded to Google Earth via the 3D Warehouse. In June 2012, Google announced that it would be replacing user-generated 3D buildings with an auto-generated 3D mesh.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://google-latlong.blogspot.ca/2012/10/explore-world-with-tour-guide-and-3d.html|title=Explore the world with tour guide and 3D imagery in Google Earth 7|publisher=Google LatLong Blog|access-date=July 24, 2016}}</ref> This would be phased in, starting with select larger cities, with the notable exception of cities such as {{wipe|London}} and Toronto which required more time to process detailed imagery of their vast number of buildings. The reason given is to have greater uniformity in 3D buildings and to compete with [[Company:Here|Nokia Here]] and [[Software:Apple Maps|Apple Maps]], which were already using this technology. The coverage began that year in 21 cities in four countries.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://venturebeat.com/2012/10/31/google-earth-adds-new-3d-imagery-in-21-cities-to-its-11000-guided-tours-of-our-planet/|title=Google Earth adds new 3D imagery in 21 cities to its 11,000 guided tours of our planet|access-date=July 24, 2016|date=November 2012}}</ref> By early 2016, 3D imagery had been expanded to hundreds of cities in over 40 countries, including every U.S. state and encompassing every continent except Antarctica.

In 2009, in a collaboration between [[Company:Google|Google]] and the Museo del Prado in Madrid, the museum selected 14 of its paintings to be photographed and displayed at the resolution of 14,000 megapixels inside the 3D version of the Prado in Google Earth and [[Software:Google Maps|Google Maps]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2009/jan/14/museums-internet-google-earth-prado|title=Online gallery zooms in on Prado's masterpieces (even the smutty bits)|author=Giles Tremlett|date=January 14, 2009|newspaper=The Guardian | location=London}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.museodelprado.es/en/whats-on/new/14-masterpieces-from-the-museo-del-prado-in/220f2fe9-beec-44a2-afdb-8c67ff37256c|title=14 masterpieces from the Museo del Prado in mega-high resolution on Google Earth|date=January 14, 2009|access-date=December 3, 2017|publisher=Museo del Prado}}</ref>

=== Street View ===
{{Main|Software:Google Street View}}
On April 15, 2008, with version 4.3, Google fully integrated [[Software:Google Street View|Street View]] into Google Earth.<ref name="PCM4.3">{{cite magazine|url=https://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2293967,00.asp|magazine=PC Magazine|date=May 6, 2008|access-date=January 1, 2018|first=Tony|last=Hoffman|title=Google Earth 4.3}}</ref> Street View displays 360° panoramic street-level photos of select cities and their surroundings. The photos were taken by cameras mounted on automobiles, can be viewed at different scales and from many angles, and are navigable by arrow icons imposed on them.

Using the Street View on Google Earth, users can visit and explore 30 UNESCO world heritage sites with historical context and pins for each. The sites include The Great Pyramid, The Taj Mahal, [[Engineering:Sagrada Família|Sagrada Família]], The Dolomites, The Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, and The Great Sphinx.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.businessinsider.com/google-earth-visit-historical-world-heritage-sites-while-social-distancing-2020-3#16-the-great-sphinx-of-giza-stands-along-the-nile-river-16|title=Check out 30 famous World Heritage sites you can virtually visit on Google Earth while social distancing|publisher=Business Insider|access-date=March 22, 2020}}</ref>

In 2019, Walt Disney World partnered with Google to create Pixar Street View. A unique activation that enabled viewers to search for hidden Pixar Easter eggs in Toy Story Land at Disney's Hollywood Studios through street view. This creative collaboration elevated Pixar's iconic tradition of hiding Easter eggs in films and introduced it to an immersive new platform.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://disneyparks.disney.go.com/blog/2019/07/pixar-easter-eggs-hidden-in-google-street-view-imagery-of-toy-story-land-at-disneys-hollywood-studios/|title=Pixar Easter Eggs Hidden in Google Street View Imagery of Toy Story Land at Disney's Hollywood Studios|website=Disney Parks Blog}}</ref>

=== Water and ocean ===
Introduced in Google Earth 5.0 in 2009, the Google Ocean feature allows users to zoom below the surface of the ocean and view the 3D [[Earth:Bathymetry|bathymetry]]. Supporting over 20 content layers, it contains information from leading scientists and [[Physics:Oceanography|oceanographers]].<ref>{{cite news| url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/7865407.stm | work=BBC News | title=Google Earth dives under the sea | date=February 2, 2009 | access-date=May 3, 2010}}</ref> On April 14, 2009, Google added bathymetric data for the Great Lakes.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://maps.googleblog.com/2009/04/google-earth-now-includes-us-third.html|title=Google Earth now includes US "Third Coast"}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.gearthblog.com/blog/archives/2009/01/new_view_of_ocean_floor_in_google_e.html |title=New View of Ocean Floor in Google Earth |work=Gearthblog.com |access-date=August 25, 2010|date=January 18, 2009 }}</ref>

In June 2011, Google increased the resolution of some deep ocean floor areas from 1-kilometer grids to 100 meters.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.earth.columbia.edu/articles/view/2814 |title=New Google Ocean Maps Dive Deep |publisher=The Earth Institute&nbsp;– Columbia University|date=June 8, 2011 |access-date=July 30, 2012}}</ref> The high-resolution features were developed by oceanographers at Columbia University's Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory from scientific data collected on research cruises. The sharper focus is available for about 5 percent of the oceans. This can be seen in the Hudson off New York City, the Wini Seamount near Hawaii, and the Mendocino Ridge off the U.S. Pacific coast.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://google-latlong.blogspot.com/2011/06/see-seafloor-like-never-before-on-world.html |title=Google Lat Long: See the seafloor like never before on World Oceans Day |publisher=Google-latlong.blogspot.com |date=June 8, 2011 |access-date=June 15, 2013}}</ref>

==Outer space==
[[File:Google Earth Mars.png|thumb|A picture of [[Astronomy:Mars|Martian]] landscape]]
[[File:Google Earth Sky.png|thumb|right|Google Earth in Sky Viewing Mode]]
[[File:Google moon 1.jpg|thumb|Apollo 11 Lunar Module ''Eagle'' and Tranquility Base as portrayed in Google Moon]]

Google has programs and features, including within Google Earth, allowing exploration of [[Astronomy:Mars|Mars]], the [[Astronomy:Moon|Moon]], the view of the sky from Earth and [[Astronomy:Outer space|outer space]], including the surfaces of various objects in the [[Astronomy:Solar System|Solar System]].

===Google Sky===
Google Sky is a feature that was introduced in Google Earth 4.2 on August 22, 2007, in a browser-based application on March 13, 2008,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.google.com/sky/ |title=Google Sky |access-date=July 30, 2012}}</ref> and to [[Software:Android (operating system)|Android]] [[Engineering:Smartphone|smartphone]]s, with [[Augmented reality|augmented reality]] features. Google Sky allows users to view [[Astronomy:Star|star]]s and other celestial bodies.<ref>{{cite web | title =Explore the sky with Google Earth | date= August 22, 2007 | url =http://earth.google.com/sky/skyedu.html | access-date =August 22, 2007 }}</ref> It was produced by [[Company:Google|Google]] through a partnership with the [[Organization:Space Telescope Science Institute|Space Telescope Science Institute]] (STScI) in Baltimore, the science operations center for the [[Astronomy:Hubble Space Telescope|Hubble Space Telescope]]. Dr. Alberto Conti and his co-developer Dr. Carol Christian of STScI planned to add the public images from 2007,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.newscientist.com/article/dn12523 |title=Celestial add-on points Google Earth at the stars&nbsp;– tech&nbsp;– August 22, 2007&nbsp;– New Scientist Tech |publisher=Technology.newscientist.com |access-date=August 25, 2010}}</ref> as well as color images of all of the archived data from Hubble's Advanced Camera for Surveys. Then-newly released [[Astronomy:Hubble Space Telescope|Hubble]] pictures were added to the Google Sky program as soon as they were issued.

New features such as multi-wavelength data, positions of major satellites and their orbits as well as educational resources are provided to the Google Earth community and also through Christian and Conti's website for Sky.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://hubblesite.org/explore_astronomy/gsky/ |title=Explore Astronomy&nbsp;– gSky Browser |publisher=HubbleSite |access-date=July 30, 2012}}</ref> Also visible on Sky mode are constellations, stars, galaxies, and animations depicting the planets in their orbits. A real-time Google Sky [[Mashup (web application hybrid)|mashup]] of recent astronomical transients, using the VOEvent protocol, is provided by the VOEventNet collaboration.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.berkeley.edu/news/media/releases/2007/09/06_GoogleSky.shtml|title=Astronomers eager to add to Sky in Google Earth|publisher=University of California Berkeley|access-date=December 3, 2017|date=September 6, 2007}}</ref> Other programs similar to Google Sky include Microsoft WorldWide Telescope and [[Software:Stellarium|Stellarium]].

===Google Mars===
Google Mars is an application within Google Earth that is a version of the program for imagery of the planet Mars. Google also operates a browser-based version, although the maps are of a much higher resolution within Google Earth, and include 3D terrain, as well as [[Physics:Infrared|infrared]] imagery and elevation data. There are also some extremely high-resolution images from the [[Astronomy:Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter|Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter]]'s HiRISE camera that are of a similar resolution to those of the cities on Earth. Finally, there are many high-resolution panoramic images from various Mars landers, such as the Mars Exploration Rovers, ''Spirit'' and ''Opportunity'', that can be viewed in a similar way to [[Software:Google Street View|Google Street View]].

Mars also has a small application found near the face on Mars. It is called Meliza, a robot character the user can speak with.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://googlesystem.blogspot.com/2009/02/chat-with-martian-in-google-earth-5.html |title=Chat With a Martian in Google Earth 5 |publisher=Googlesystem.blogspot.com |date=February 3, 2009 |access-date=July 30, 2012}}</ref>

===Google Moon===
Originally a browser application, Google Moon is a feature that allows exploration of the Moon. Google brought the feature to Google Earth for the 40th anniversary of the [[Engineering:Apollo 11|Apollo 11]] mission on July 20, 2009.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.gearthblog.com/blog/archives/2009/07/look_at_the_moon_in_google_earth_-.html |title=Look at the Moon in Google Earth&nbsp;– Available Now! &#124; Google Earth Blog |publisher=Gearthblog.com |access-date=August 25, 2010|date=July 20, 2009 }}</ref> It was announced and demonstrated to a group of invited guests by Google along with [[Biography:Buzz Aldrin|Buzz Aldrin]] at the Newseum in Washington, D.C.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.gearthblog.com/blog/archives/2009/07/google_earth_event_on_july_20th_in.html |title=Google Earth Event on July 20th in DC&nbsp;– Expect the Moon &#124; Google Earth Blog |publisher=Gearthblog.com |date=July 9, 2009 |access-date=August 25, 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://google-latlong.blogspot.com/2009/07/fly-yourself-to-moon.html |title=Google LatLong: Fly yourself to the moon |publisher=Google-latlong.blogspot.com |date=July 20, 2009 |access-date=August 25, 2010}}</ref> Google Moon includes several tours, including one for the [[Astronomy:Apollo program|Apollo missions]], incorporating maps, videos, and Street View-style panoramas, all provided by [[Organization:NASA|NASA]].

== Other features ==
Google Earth has numerous features that allow the user to learn about specific places. These are called "layers", and include different forms of media, including photo and video. Some layers include tours, which guide the user between specific places in a set order. Layers are created using the [[Keyhole Markup Language]], or KML, which users can also use to create customized layers.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://developers.google.com/kml/ |title=Keyhole Markup Language — Google Developers |date=March 1, 2012 |access-date=June 15, 2013}}</ref> Locations can be marked with placemarks and organized in folders; For example, a user can use placemarks to list interesting landmarks around the globe, then provide a description with photos and videos, which can be viewed by clicking on the placemarks while viewing the new layer in the application.

In December 2006, Google Earth added a new integration with [[Wikipedia]] and Panoramio. For the Wikipedia layer, entries are scraped for coordinates via the {{srlink|Template:Coord|Coord templates}}. There is also a community layer from the project Wikipedia-World. More coordinates are used, different types are in the display, and different languages are supported than the built-in Wikipedia layer.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://tools.wikimedia.de/~kolossos/world-link.php?lang=en |title=Earth |access-date=November 19, 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.webkuehn.de/hobbys/wikipedia/geokoordinaten/index.htm |title=Homepage von Stefan Kühn |publisher=webkuehn.de |access-date=July 30, 2012}}</ref> The Panoramio layer features pictures uploaded by Panoramio users, placed in Google Earth based on user-provided location data. In addition to flat images, Google Earth also includes a layer for user-submitted panoramic photos, navigable in a similar way to Street View.

Google Earth includes multiple features that allow the user to monitor current events. In 2007, Google began offering users the ability to monitor traffic data provided by Google Traffic in real-time, based on information crowdsourced from the GPS-identified locations of cell phone users.<ref>{{cite web | last = Wang | first = David | title = Stuck in traffic? | date = February 28, 2007 | url = http://googleblog.blogspot.ca/2007/02/stuck-in-traffic.html}}</ref>

=== Flight simulators ===
[[File:Toronto downtown.png|right|thumb|Downtown Toronto as seen from an F-16 Fighting Falcon during a simulated flight]]

In Google Earth 4.2, a [[Flight simulator|flight simulator]] was added to the application. It was originally a [[Easter egg (media)#Software|hidden feature]] when introduced in 2007, but starting with 4.3, it was given a labeled option in the menu. In addition to keyboard control, the simulator can be controlled with a mouse or joystick.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://support.google.com/earth/bin/answer.py?hl=en&answer=148089 |title=Use Google Earth flight simulator – Google Earth Help |access-date=June 15, 2013}}</ref><ref>[http://technology.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/tech_and_web/the_web/article3250643.ece Webwise: Google's flight simulator] The Sunday Times, January 27, 2008</ref> The simulator also runs with animation, allowing objects such as planes to animate while on the simulator.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.gearthblog.com/blog/archives/2009/08/planes_for_google_earth_flight_simu.html |title=Planes For Google Earth Flight Simulator &#124; Google Earth Blog |publisher=Gearthblog.com |access-date=July 30, 2012|date=August 11, 2009 }}</ref>

Another flight simulator, GeoFS, was created under the name GEFS-Online using the Google Earth Plug-in [[API]] to operate within a [[Software:Web browser|web browser]]. As of September 1, 2015, the program now uses the open-source program CesiumJS, due to the Google Earth Plug-in being discontinued.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://cesiumjs.org/2016/07/12/Moving-GEFS-Online-from-Google-Earth-to-Cesium/|title=Moving GEFS Online from Google Earth to Cesium|work=Cesium Blog}}</ref>

=== Liquid Galaxy ===
Liquid Galaxy is a cluster of computers running Google Earth creating an [[Engineering:Immersive technology|immersive experience]]. On September 30, 2010, Google made the configuration and schematics for their rigs public,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://google-latlong.blogspot.com/2010/09/galaxy-of-your-own.html|title=A galaxy of your own|publisher=Google-latlong.blogspot.com |date=September 30, 2010 |access-date=March 10, 2012}}</ref> placing code and setup guides on the Liquid Galaxy wiki.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://code.google.com/p/liquid-galaxy/| title=Liquid Galaxy wiki on code.google.com| date=September 30, 2010 |access-date=March 10, 2012}}</ref> Liquid Galaxy has also been used as a panoramic photo viewer using KRpano, as well as a Google Street View viewer using Peruse-a-Rue<ref>{{cite web|url=https://groups.google.com/forum/#!topic/liquid-galaxy/z0VXsLhimsw| title=Peruse-a-Rue: Street View for Liquid Galaxy| date=September 3, 2013| access-date=November 20, 2013}}</ref> Peruse-a-Rue is a method for synchronizing multiple [[Software:Google Maps#Google Maps API|Maps API]] clients.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://blog.endpoint.com/2013/11/liquid-galaxy-and-its-very-own-street.html| title=Liquid Galaxy and its Very Own Street View App| date=November 9, 2013| access-date=November 20, 2013}}</ref>

== Versions ==
Google Earth has been released on [[Software:MacOS|macOS]], [[Software:Linux|Linux]], [[Software:IOS|iOS]], and [[Software:Android (operating system)|Android]]. The [[Software:Linux|Linux]] version began with the version 4 beta of Google Earth, as a native port using the [[Software:Qt|Qt toolkit]]. The [[Organization:Free Software Foundation|Free Software Foundation]] consider the development of a free compatible client for Google Earth to be a High Priority Free Software Project.<ref>[http://www.fsf.org/campaigns/priority.html FSF.org] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070810230457/http://www.fsf.org/campaigns/priority.html |date=August 10, 2007 }}: High Priority Free Software Projects</ref> Google Earth was released for Android on February 22, 2010,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://google-latlong.blogspot.com/2010/02/google-earth-now-available-for-android.html |title=Google Earth now available for Android |publisher=google-latlong.blogspot.com}}</ref> and on iOS on October 27, 2008.<ref>{{cite magazine| url=http://blog.wired.com/gadgets/2008/10/google-earth-co.html| title=Google Earth Comes to the iPhone|magazine=Wired| date=October 27, 2008|last=Sorrel|first=Charlie| access-date=October 27, 2008}}</ref><ref>{{cite web| url=http://googlemobile.blogspot.com/2008/10/google-earth-now-available-for-iphone.html| title=Google Earth now available for the iPhone|publisher=Google Mobile team| date=October 27, 2008| access-date=October 27, 2008}}</ref> The mobile versions of Google Earth can make use of multi-touch interfaces to move on the globe, zoom or rotate the view, and allow to select the current location. An automotive version of Google Earth was made available in the 2010 [[Engineering:Audi A8|Audi A8]].<ref>{{cite web|last=Redmer |first=Jens |url=http://google-latlong.blogspot.com/2009/12/google-audi-take-google-services-in-car.html |title=Google LatLong: Google & Audi take Google services in a car to the next level in the new Audi A8 |publisher=Google-latlong.blogspot.com |date=December 16, 2009 |access-date=August 25, 2010}}</ref> On February 27, 2020, Google opened up its web-based version of Earth to browsers like Firefox, Edge, and Opera.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.theverge.com/2020/2/27/21155707/google-earth-firefox-edge-opera-support-webassembly-code-update-web-release|title=Google Earth finally available in browsers other than Chrome|last=Warren|first=Tom|date=February 27, 2020|website=The Verge|language=en|access-date=February 27, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.engadget.com/2020/02/27/google-earth-web-assembly-firefox-edge-opera/|title=Google Earth finally works on Firefox, Edge and Opera browsers|website=Engadget|language=en|access-date=February 27, 2020}}</ref>

{| class="wikitable sortable" style="font-size:95%;"
|+Version history
|-
! style="width:8%" | Version
! style="width:10%" | Release date
! style="width:82%;" | Changes
|-
|1.0
|June 10, 2001
|
|-
|1.4
|January 2002
|
|-
|1.6
|February 2003
|
|-
|1.7.2
|October 2003
|
|-
|2.2
|August 2004
|
|-
|3.0
|June 2005
|
*The first version was released after Google acquired Keyhole, Inc.
|-
|4.0
|June 2006
|
|-
|4.1
|May 2007
|
|-
|4.2
|August 2007
|
*Google Sky was introduced
*A flight simulator was added
|-
|4.3
|April 2008
|
*First release to implement KML version 2.2
*Google Street View was added
|-
|5.0
|May 2009
|
*Google Ocean was introduced
*Historical Imagery was introduced
|-
|5.1
|November 2009
|
|-
|5.2
|July 2010
|
*Last version to support Mac OS X 10.4 Tiger (PPC & Intel) and 10.5 Leopard (PPC)
|-
|6.0
|March 2011
|
*3D Trees were added
|-
|6.1
|October 2011
|
|-
|6.2
|April 2012
|
*Last version to support Mac OS X 10.5 Leopard (Intel)
|-
|7.0
|December 2012
|
* Support for 3D Imagery data was introduced
* Tour Guide was introduced
|-
|7.1
|April 2013
|
*Last version to support Mac OS X 10.6 Snow Leopard and Mac OS X 10.7 Lion
|-
|7.3
|July 2017
|
*Google Earth Pro became the standard version of the desktop program. (A free license key was also publicly provided by Google for all the earlier Pro versions.)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://support.google.com/earth/answer/168344?hl=en |title=Update Google Earth Pro |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180318082624/https://support.google.com/earth/answer/168344?hl=en |archive-date=March 18, 2018 |access-date=April 23, 2018}}</ref>
|-
|9.0
|April 2017
|
*An entirely redesigned version of the program; Currently only available for Google Chrome and Android. The desktop application continues to be Google Earth Pro, with infrequent updates.
|-
|}

=== Google Earth Pro ===
[[File:Google Earth.png|thumb|right|265px|Google Earth running on Android]]
Google Earth Pro was originally the business-oriented upgrade to Google Earth, with features such as a movie maker and data importer. Up until late January 2015, it was available for $399/year, though Google decided to make it free to the public.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://gizmodo.com/google-earth-pro-is-now-free-1682987518 |title=Google Earth Pro Is Now Available for Free |author=Kate Knibbs|date=February 2, 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last1=Rose|first1=Robert|title=Good News Everyone! Google Earth Pro Now Free!|url=http://mapshole.com/2015/02/11/google-earth-pro-now-free/|website=Mapshole|access-date=February 22, 2015|date=February 11, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190726175647/http://mapshole.com/2015/02/11/google-earth-pro-now-free/|archive-date=July 26, 2019|url-status=dead}}</ref> Google Earth Pro is currently the standard version of the Google Earth desktop application as of version 7.3.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://earth.google.com/support/bin/answer.py?hl=en&answer=40901 |title=notes on Google Earth releases |author=Google|date=July 10, 2017}}</ref> The Pro version includes add-on software for movie making, advanced printing, and precise measurements, and is currently available for Windows, Mac OS X 10.8 or later, and Linux.<ref>{{cite web|title=Google Earth for Desktop|url=https://www.google.com/earth/explore/products/desktop.html|website=Google Earth|access-date=February 22, 2015}}</ref>

=== Google Earth Plus ===
Discontinued in December 2008, Google Earth Plus was a paid subscription upgrade to Google Earth that provided customers with the following features, most of which have become available in the free Google Earth.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://earth.google.com/enterprise/earth_plus.html |title=Google Earth Plus |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080420013757/http://earth.google.com/enterprise/earth_plus.html |archive-date=April 20, 2008 |access-date=February 1, 2017}}</ref> One such feature was GPS integration, which allowed users to read tracks and waypoints from a [[Engineering:Global Positioning System|GPS]] device. A variety of third-party applications have been created which provide this functionality using the basic version of Google Earth by generating KML or KMZ files based on user-specified or user-recorded waypoints.

=== Google Earth Enterprise ===
Google Earth Enterprise is designed for use by organizations whose businesses could take advantage of the program's capabilities, for example by having a globe that holds company data available for anyone in that company.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.google.com/enterprise/earthmaps/enterprise.html |title=Google Earth Enterprise – Google Earth and Maps Enterprise |access-date=November 16, 2012}}</ref> As of March 20, 2015, Google has retired the Google Earth Enterprise product, with support ended on March 22, 2017.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://support.google.com/earthenterprise/#topic=2802998 |title=(Deprecated) Google Earth Enterprise Help |access-date=July 12, 2016}}</ref> Google Earth Enterprise allowed developers to create maps and 3D globes for private use, and host them through the platform. GEE Fusion, GEE Server, and GEE Portable Server source code was published on GitHub under the Apache2 license in March 2017.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://maps-apis.googleblog.com/2017/01/open-sourcing-google-earth-enterprise.html |title=Open-Sourcing Google Earth Enterprise |access-date=January 31, 2017}}</ref>

=== Google Earth Studio ===
Google Earth Studio is a web-based version of Google Earth used for animations using Google Earth's 3D imagery. As of June 2021, it is preview-only and requires signing up to use it.<ref>{{Cite web|title=FAQ|url=https://www.google.com/earth/studio/faq/|access-date=2021-06-01|website=Google Earth Studio|language=en}}</ref> It features keyframe animation, presets called "Quick-Start Projects", and 3D camera export.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Google Earth Studio|url=https://www.google.com/earth/studio/|access-date=2021-06-01|website=Google Earth Studio|language=en}}</ref>

=== Google Earth 9 ===
Google Earth 9 is a version of Google Earth first released on April 18, 2017, having been in development for two years.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://productforums.google.com/forum/#!topic/maps/n5kxulcQUTM|title=Google Groups|website=productforums.google.com|access-date=April 22, 2017}}</ref> The main feature of this version was the launching of a new web version of Google Earth.<ref name=":1">{{Cite news|url=https://www.gearthblog.com/blog/archives/2017/04/first-review-new-google-earth.html|title=First Review of New Google Earth - Google Earth Blog|date=April 18, 2017|work=Google Earth Blog|access-date=April 22, 2017|language=en-US}}</ref> This version added the "Voyager" feature, whereby users can view a portal page containing guided tours led by scientists and documentarians.<ref name=":0">{{Cite news|url=https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2017/04/google-earth-adds-guided-video-tours-from-bbcs-planet-earth-and-others/|title=Google Earth gets a new home on the Web, fancy "guided tour" section|work=Ars Technica|access-date=April 22, 2017|language=en-us}}</ref> The version also added an "I'm Feeling Lucky" button, represented by a die, which takes the user to a random location on Earth along with showing them a "Knowledge Card" containing a short excerpt from the location's Wikipedia article.<ref name=":0" />

=== Google Earth Plug-in ===
The Google Earth API was a free beta service, allowing users to place a version of Google Earth into web pages. The API enabled sophisticated 3D map applications to be built.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://developers.google.com/earth/ |title=Google Earth API — Google Developers |date=February 24, 2012 |access-date=June 15, 2013}}</ref> At its unveiling at Google's 2008 I/O developer conference, the company showcased potential applications such as a game where the player controlled a milktruck atop a Google Earth surface.<ref>{{cite web|last=Teglet|first=Traian|title=Driving the Monster Milktruck in Google Earth|url=http://news.softpedia.com/news/Driving-the-Monster-Milktruck-in-Google-Earth-86765.shtml|publisher=Softpedia|access-date=March 30, 2012|date=May 29, 2008}}</ref> The Google Earth API has been deprecated as of December 15, 2014 and remained supported until December 15, 2015.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://developers.google.com/earth/|title=Google Earth API Developer's Guide|date=May 8, 2015|work=Google Developers}}</ref> Google Chrome ended support for the [[NPAPI|Netscape Plugin API]] (which the Google Earth API relies on) by the end of 2016.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://blog.chromium.org/2013/09/saying-goodbye-to-our-old-friend-npapi.html|title=Chromium Blog: Saying Goodbye to Our Old Friend NPAPI|work=Chromium Blog}}</ref>

=== Google Earth VR ===
On November 16, 2016, Google released a [[Virtual reality|virtual reality]] version of Google Earth for [[Company:Valve Corporation|Valve]]'s [[Software:Steam (service)|Steam]] computer gaming platform.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://vr.google.com/earth/|title=Google Earth VR|access-date=January 3, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.blog.google/products/google-vr/google-earth-vr-bringing-whole-wide-world-virtual-reality/|title=Google Earth VR Bringing the Whole Wide World to Virtual Reality|date=November 16, 2016|access-date=January 3, 2018}}</ref> Google Earth VR allows users to navigate using VR controllers, and is currently compatible with the [[Engineering:Oculus Rift|Oculus Rift]] and [[Engineering:HTC Vive|HTC Vive]] [[Engineering:Virtual reality headset|virtual reality headset]]s. On September 14, 2017, as part of Google Earth VR's 1.4 update, Google added Street View support.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://techcrunch.com/2017/09/14/google-earth-vr-app-gets-support-for-street-view/|title=Google Earth VR App Gets Support for Street View|work=TechCrunch|date=September 14, 2017|access-date=January 3, 2018}}</ref>

==Google Earth Outreach==
'''Google Earth Outreach''' is a charity program, through which Google promotes and donates to various non-profit organizations. Beginning in 2007, donations are often accompanied by layers featured in Google Earth, allowing users to view a non-profit's projects and goals by navigating to certain related locations.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://earth.google.com/outreach/index.html|title=Google Earth Outreach|access-date=December 21, 2014}}</ref> Google Earth Outreach offers online training on using Google Earth and Google Maps for public education on issues affecting local regions or the entire globe. In June 2008, training was given to 20 indigenous tribes in the Amazon rainforest, such as the Suruí, to help them preserve their culture and raise awareness for the problem of deforestation.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://earth.google.com/outreach/amazon1.html|title=Google Earth Outreach Goes to the Amazon|access-date=December 21, 2014}}</ref>

Non-profit organizations featured in Google Earth via the Outreach program include Arkive, the Global Heritage Fund, [[Organization:WaterAid|WaterAid]], and the [[Organization:World Wide Fund for Nature|World Wide Fund for Nature]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://thegoodhuman.com/exploring-global-awareness-layers-in-google-earth/|title=Exploring Global Awareness Layers in Google Earth|publisher=The Good Human|date=November 26, 2017|access-date=January 2, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.arkive.org/Earth/ocean.html|title=Explore Arkive using Google Earth|access-date=January 2, 2018|publisher=Arkive|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171125183317/http://www.arkive.org/Earth/ocean.html|archive-date=November 25, 2017|url-status=dead}}</ref>

==Google Earth Engine==
[[File:Flii globe.png|thumb|350px|The Forest Landscape Integrity Index, created in Google Earth Engine.]]
'''Google Earth Engine''' is a [[Cloud computing|cloud computing]] platform for processing [[Astronomy:Satellite imagery|satellite imagery]] and other geospatial and observation data. It provides access to a large database of satellite imagery and the computational power needed to analyze those images.<ref name="Timothy Gardner">{{cite news  | last=  Gardner| first=  Timothy | url=  https://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE6B13RK20101202| title=  Google unveils satellite platform to aid forest efforts| publisher= reuters| date=  December 2, 2010}}</ref> Google Earth Engine allows observation of dynamic changes in agriculture, natural resources, and climate using geospatial data from the Landsat satellite program, which [[Ground track|passes over]] the same places on the Earth every sixteen days.<ref name="googleearthengine">{{Cite web|url=https://earthengine.google.com/faq/|title=FAQ – Google Earth Engine|website=earthengine.google.com}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|author= Dunbar, Brian|title= New Public Application of Landsat Images Released|website=[[Organization:NASA|NASA]]|date=n.d.|access-date= March 19, 2014| url= http://www.nasa.gov/content/new-public-application-of-landsat-images-released/#.UynQuvldWht}}</ref> Google Earth Engine has become a platform that makes Landsat and Sentinel-2 data easily accessible to researchers in collaboration with the Google Cloud Storage.<ref name="googleearthengine"/> Google Earth Engine provides a data catalog along with computers for analysis; this allows scientists to collaborate using data, algorithms, and visualizations.<ref>{{cite journal |last1= Gorelick|first1= Noel|date= April 2013|title= Google Earth Engine|bibcode= 2013EGUGA..1511997G|journal= Egu General Assembly Conference Abstracts|volume= 15|pages= EGU2013–11997}}</ref> The platform provides Python and JavaScript application programming interfaces for making requests to the servers,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://developers.google.com/earth-engine/|title=Introduction {{!}} Google Earth Engine API {{!}} Google Developers|website=Google Developers|language=en|access-date=March 20, 2018}}</ref> and includes a graphical user interface<ref>{{Cite web|title=Earth Engine Code Editor {{!}} Google Earth Engine|url=https://developers.google.com/earth-engine/guides/playground|access-date=2021-11-27|website=Google Developers|language=en}}</ref> for developing applications.

An early prototype of Earth Engine, based on the [[Organization:Carnegie Mellon University|Carnegie Institute for Science's]] CLASlite system and Imazon’s Sistema de Alerta de Desmatamento (SAD) was demonstrated in 2009<ref>{{Cite web|title=Seeing the forest through the cloud|url=https://googleblog.blogspot.com/2009/12/seeing-forest-through-cloud.html|access-date=2021-11-27|website=Official Google Blog|language=en}}</ref> at COP15, and Earth Engine was officially launched in 2010<ref>{{Cite web|date=2010-12-02|title=Introducing Google Earth Engine|url=https://blog.google/outreach-initiatives/sustainability/introducing-google-earth-engine/|access-date=2021-11-27|website=Google|language=en-us}}</ref> at COP16, along with maps of the water in the Congo basin and forests in Mexico produced by researchers using the tool.

In 2013, researchers from University of Maryland produced the first high-resolution global forest cover and loss maps using Earth Engine, reporting an overall loss in global forest cover.<ref>{{cite web|author=Hansen, M. C.|display-authors=0|date=November 15, 2013|title=Global Forest Change|url=https://earthenginepartners.appspot.com/google.com/science-2013-global-forest|access-date=February 27, 2014}}</ref> Other early applications using Earth Engine spanned a diverse variety of topics, including: Tiger Habitat Monitoring,<ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Joshi|first1=Anup R.|last2=Dinerstein|first2=Eric|last3=Wikramanayake|first3=Eric|last4=Anderson|first4=Michael L.|last5=Olson|first5=David|last6=Jones|first6=Benjamin S.|last7=Seidensticker|first7=John|last8=Lumpkin|first8=Susan|last9=Hansen|first9=Matthew C.|date=April 1, 2016|title=Tracking changes and preventing loss in critical tiger habitat|journal=Science Advances|language=en|volume=2|issue=4|pages=e1501675|bibcode=2016SciA....2E1675J|doi=10.1126/sciadv.1501675|issn=2375-2548|pmc=4820387|pmid=27051881}}</ref> Malaria Risk Mapping,<ref>{{Cite web|title=UCSF, Google Earth Engine Making Maps to Predict Malaria|url=https://www.ucsf.edu/news/2014/09/116906/ucsf-google-earth-engine-making-maps-predict-malaria|access-date=March 22, 2018|website=UC San Francisco|language=en}}</ref> Global Surface Water,<ref>{{Cite news|date=December 7, 2016|title=The nature of water: unveiling the most detailed view of water on Earth|language=en|work=Google|url=https://blog.google/topics/google-europe/nature-water-unveiling-most-detailed-view-water-earth/|access-date=March 22, 2018}}</ref>  increases in vegetation around Mount Everest,<ref>{{cite news|last1=Barkham|first1=Patrick|date=January 10, 2020|title=Grass growing around Mount Everest as global heating intensifies|newspaper=The Guardian|url=https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2020/jan/10/grass-growing-around-mount-everest-as-global-heating-intensifies|access-date=January 10, 2020|issn=0261-3077|via=www.theguardian.com}}</ref> and the annual [[Earth:Forest Landscape Integrity Index|Forest Landscape Integrity Index]].<ref name="OriginalArticle">{{cite journal|last1=Grantham|first1=H. S.|last2=Duncan|first2=A.|last3=Evans|first3=T. D.|last4=Jones|first4=K. R.|last5=Beyer|first5=H. L.|last6=Schuster|first6=R.|last7=Walston|first7=J.|last8=Ray|first8=J. C.|last9=Robinson|first9=J. G.|last10=Callow|first10=M.|last11=Clements|first11=T.|year=2020|title=Anthropogenic modification of forests means only 40% of remaining forests have high ecosystem integrity|journal=Nature Communications|volume=11|issue=1|page=5978|bibcode=2020NatCo..11.5978G|doi=10.1038/s41467-020-19493-3|issn=2041-1723|pmc=7723057|pmid=33293507|doi-access=free|last18=Goetz|first41=E.|first44=R.|last44=Tizard|first43=T.|last43=Tear|first42=R.|last42=Taylor|last41=Stokes|first45=O.|first40=T.|last40=Stevens|first39=B.|last39=Strassburg|first38=A.|last38=Shapiro|last45=Venter|last46=Visconti|last37=Silverman|last15=Ervin|last12=Costa|first12=H. M.|last13=DeGemmis|first13=A.|last14=Elsen|first14=P. R.|first15=J.|first46=P.|last16=Franco|first16=P.|last17=Goldman|first48=J. E. M.|last48=Watson|first47=S.|last47=Wang|first37=J.|first36=C.|first18=S.|last23=Kang|last26=Lieberman|first25=W. F.|last25=Laurance|first24=P.|last24=Langhammer|first23=A.|first22=S.|last27=Linkie|last22=Jupiter|first21=P.|last21=Jantz|first20=E.|last20=Hofsvang|first19=A.|last19=Hansen|first26=S.|first27=M.|last36=Samper|first32=N. J.|first35=S.|last35=Saatchi|first34=J.|last34=Radachowsky|first33=H.|last33=Possingham|last32=Murray|first17=E.|first31=R.|last31=Mittermeier|first30=M.|last30=Mendez|first29=S.|last29=Maxwell|first28=Y.|last28=Malhi}}</ref>  Since then, Earth Engine has been used in the production of hundreds of scientific journal articles<ref name=":4">{{Cite journal|last1=Amani|first1=Meisam|last2=Ghorbanian|first2=Arsalan|last3=Ahmadi|first3=Seyed Ali|last4=Kakooei|first4=Mohammad|last5=Moghimi|first5=Armin|last6=Mirmazloumi|first6=S. Mohammad|last7=Moghaddam|first7=Sayyed Hamed Alizadeh|last8=Mahdavi|first8=Sahel|last9=Ghahremanloo|first9=Masoud|last10=Parsian|first10=Saeid|last11=Wu|first11=Qiusheng|date=2020|title=Google Earth Engine Cloud Computing Platform for Remote Sensing Big Data Applications: A Comprehensive Review|url=https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/9184118|journal=IEEE Journal of Selected Topics in Applied Earth Observations and Remote Sensing|volume=13|pages=5326–5350|doi=10.1109/JSTARS.2020.3021052|bibcode=2020IJSTA..13.5326A|s2cid=221848196|issn=2151-1535}}</ref> in many fields including: forestry and agriculture, hydrology, natural disaster monitoring and assessment, urban mapping, atmospheric and climate sciences and soil mapping.<ref name=":4" />

Earth Engine has been free for academic and research purposes since its launch, but commercial use has been prohibited until 2021, when Google announced a preview of Earth Engine as a commercial cloud offering and early adopters that included Unilever, USDA and Climate Engine.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Commercial – Google Earth Engine|url=https://earthengine.google.com/commercial/|access-date=2021-11-27|website=earthengine.google.com}}</ref>

== Controversy and criticism ==

The software has been criticized by a number of [[Organization:Special interest group|special interest group]]s, including national officials, as being an invasion of privacy or posing a threat to [[Social:National security|national security]]. The typical argument is that the software provides information about military or other critical installations that could be used by terrorists. Google Earth has been blocked by Google in Iran<ref name="iranban">[https://productforums.google.com/forum/?hl=en#!category-topic/earth/problems-and-errors/EBYhLh_amzI "Why is Google Earth being blocked in Iran?"] Google Earth Help forums June 17, 2009</ref> and Sudan<ref name="sudanban">[http://www.sudantribune.com/spip.php?article21501 "Google Earth ban in Sudan is due to US export restrictions"] Sudan Tribune, April 22, 2007</ref> since 2007, due to United States government export restrictions. The program has also been blocked in Morocco since 2006 by Maroc Telecom, a major service provider in the country.<ref name="Morocco censorship">{{cite web|url=http://www.ogleearth.com/2006/08/morocco_censors.html |title=Morocco censorship? |publisher=Ogleearth.com |date=August 24, 2006 |access-date=August 6, 2011}}</ref>
 
[[Image:Royal Stables.jpg|thumb|right|Blurred out image of the Royal Stables in The Hague, Netherlands. This has since been lifted.]]
In the academic realm, increasing attention has been devoted to both Google Earth and its place in the development of digital globes. In particular, ''the International Journal of Digital Earth'' features multiple articles evaluating and comparing the development of Google Earth and its differences when compared to other professional, scientific, and governmental platforms.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Arza-García |first1=Marcos |last2=Gil-Docampo |first2=Mariluz |last3=Ortiz-Sanz |first3=Juan |last4=Martínez-Rodríguez |first4=Santiago |title=Virtual globes for UAV-based data integration: Sputnik GIS and Google Earth™ applications |journal=International Journal of Digital Earth |date=May 4, 2019 |volume=12 |issue=5 |pages=583–593 |doi=10.1080/17538947.2018.1470205 |bibcode=2019IJDE...12..583A |hdl=10347/16754 |s2cid=134211000 |issn=1753-8947|hdl-access=free }}</ref> Google Earth's role in the expansion of "earth observing media" has been examined to understand how it is shaping a shared cultural consciousness regarding climate change and humanity's capacity to treat the earth as an engineerable object.<ref>{{Cite journal|title=Google Warming|journal=Convergence: The International Journal of Research into New Media Technologies|volume=20|pages=85–107|doi=10.1177/1354856513516266|year=2014|last1=Gurevitch|first1=Leon|s2cid=144987331}}</ref>

===Defense===
* In 2006, one user spotted a large topographical replica in a remote region of China. The model is a small-scale (1/500) version of the Karakoram Mountain Range, which is under the control of China but claimed by India. When later confirmed as a replica of this region, spectators began entertaining military implications.<ref name="SMHChinaModel">{{cite news |url=https://www.smh.com.au/news/web/chinese-xfile-excites-spotters/2006/07/20/1153166503699.html| title=Chinese X-file excites spotters | access-date=January 25, 2007 | work=The Sydney Morning Herald | date=July 20, 2006}}</ref><ref name="IndianExpressChinaModel">{{cite web|url=http://www.indianexpress.com/story/9972.html|title=From sky, see how China builds model of Indian border 2400&nbsp;km away|access-date=January 25, 2007|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070123084226/http://www.indianexpress.com/story/9972.html|archive-date=January 23, 2007}}</ref>
* In July 2007, it was reported that a new Chinese Navy [[Engineering:Jin-class submarine|''Jin''-class]] [[Engineering:Nuclear weapon|nuclear]] [[Physics:Ballistic missile|ballistic missile]] [[Engineering:Submarine|submarine]] was photographed at the Xiaopingdao Submarine Base south of Dalian.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://fas.org/blog/ssp/2007/07/new_chinese_ballistic_missile.php| title=New Chinese Ballistic Missile Submarine Spotted | access-date=July 10, 2007}}</ref>
* Hamas and the al-Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades have reportedly used Google Earth to plan [[Engineering:Qassam rocket|Qassam rocket]] attacks on Israel from Gaza (See: Palestinian rocket attacks on Israel.)<ref>{{cite news|author=Clancy Chassay in Gaza City and Bobbie Johnson |url=https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2007/oct/25/google.israel |title=Google Earth used to target Israel |newspaper=Guardian |date= October 25, 2007|access-date=August 25, 2010 | location=London}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/1567442/Google-Earth-used-in-rocket-strikes-on-Israel.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220110/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/1567442/Google-Earth-used-in-rocket-strikes-on-Israel.html |archive-date=January 10, 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|title=Google Earth used in rocket strikes on Israel|last=Levinson|first=Charles|date=October 26, 2007|newspaper=The Telegraph|access-date=December 3, 2017}}{{cbignore}}</ref>
* On February 13, 2019, 3D imagery was launched in four of Taiwan's cities: Taipei, New Taipei, Taoyuan, and Taichung. This has caused concerns from Taiwanese officials, such as Taiwan's Defense Minister Yen Teh-fa, saying that the 3D imagery exposed some of its Patriot missile sites. Ten days later on February 23, Google confirmed that it would be removing all of its 3D imagery from Taiwan.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/en/news/3637321|title=Google Maps launches 3D view of Taipei today|publisher=Taiwan News|date=February 13, 2019|access-date=February 25, 2019|location=Taipei}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.digitaltrends.com/computing/google-earth-3d-map-exposes-taiwan-military-bases/|title=Google Earth spills the beans, reveals Taiwan's secret military bases|date=February 19, 2019|publisher=Digital Trends|access-date=February 25, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://focustaiwan.tw/news/ast/201902230019.aspx|title=3D images of Taiwan to be pulled from Google Maps|publisher=Focus Taiwan|date=February 23, 2019|access-date=February 25, 2019|location=Taipei}}</ref>

===National security===
* Former President of India A. P. J. Abdul Kalam expressed concern over the availability of high-resolution pictures of sensitive locations in India.<ref name="IndianPresCrit">{{cite web |url=http://archive.techtree.com/techtree/jsp/article.jsp?article_id=68712&cat_id=582|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120320085233/http://archive.techtree.com/techtree/jsp/article.jsp?article_id=68712&cat_id=582|archive-date=March 20, 2012| title=Kalam Concerned Over Google Earth | access-date=January 25, 2007}}</ref> Google subsequently agreed to censor such sites.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2007-02-04/india/27872874_1_google-earth-images-concern-that-unrestricted-pictures|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110811132728/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2007-02-04/india/27872874_1_google-earth-images-concern-that-unrestricted-pictures|url-status=dead|archive-date=August 11, 2011|title=Google Earth agrees to blur pix of key Indian sites | first1=Rajeev|last1=Deshpande|work=The Times of India|date=February 4, 2007}}</ref>
* The [[Astronomy:Indian Space Research Organisation|Indian Space Research Organisation]] said Google Earth poses a security threat to India and seeks dialogue with Google officials.<ref name="ISROCrit">{{cite web |url=http://www.techshout.com/internet/2006/10/google-earth-poses-security-threat-to-india-isro-chief-seeks-dialogue/| title=Google Earth Poses Security Threat to India, ISRO Chief seeks Dialogue | access-date=January 25, 2007| date=July 10, 2006 }}</ref>
* The {{wipe|South Korea}}n government expressed concern that the software offers images of the presidential palace and various military installations that could possibly be used by its hostile neighbor North Korea.<ref name="SouthKoreaGovCrit">{{cite web |url=http://www.worldtribune.com/worldtribune/TEMP/ea_skorea_09_06.html| title=Google Earth images compromise secret installations in S. Korea | access-date=January 25, 2007 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070701162623/http://www.worldtribune.com/worldtribune/TEMP/ea_skorea_09_06.html <!-- Bot retrieved archive --> |archive-date = July 1, 2007}}</ref>
* In 2006, Google Earth began offering detailed images of classified areas in Israel. The images showed Israel Defense Forces bases, including secret {{wipe|Israeli Air Force}} facilities, Israel's Arrow missile defense system, military headquarters and Defense Ministry compound in Tel Aviv, a top-secret power station near Ashkelon, and the Negev Nuclear Research Center. Also shown was the alleged headquarters of Mossad, Israel's foreign intelligence service, whose location is highly classified.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3261490,00.html |title=Google 'spying' on IDF |newspaper=Ynetnews |publisher=Ynetnews.com |date=June 20, 1995 |access-date=August 6, 2011|last1=Goldman |first1=Dudi }}</ref>
* As a result of pressure from the United States government, the residence of the Vice President at Number One Observatory Circle was obscured through pixelization in Google Earth and [[Software:Google Maps|Google Maps]] in 2006, but this restriction has since been lifted. The usefulness of this downgrade is questionable, as high-resolution photos and aerial surveys of the property are readily available on the Internet elsewhere.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.eyeball-series.org/veep-eyeball.htm|title=Eyeball-series.org|website=www.eyeball-series.org}}</ref> Capitol Hill also used to be pixelized in this way. The Royal Stables in The Hague, Netherlands also used to be pixelized. This is also true for airports in Greece.
* The lone surviving gunman involved in the 2008 Mumbai attacks admitted to using Google Earth to familiarise himself with the locations of buildings used in the attacks.<ref>{{cite news|last=Bedi |first=Rahul |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/india/3691723/Mumbai-attacks-Indian-suit-against-Google-Earth-over-image-use-by-terrorists.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220110/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/india/3691723/Mumbai-attacks-Indian-suit-against-Google-Earth-over-image-use-by-terrorists.html |archive-date=January 10, 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |title=Mumbai attacks: Indian suit against Google Earth over image use by terrorists |publisher=Telegraph.co.uk |date=December 9, 2008 |access-date=August 6, 2011}}{{cbignore}}</ref>
* Michael Finton, aka Talib Islam, used Google Earth in planning his attempted September 24, 2009, bombing of the Paul Findley Federal Building and the adjacent offices of Congressman Aaron Schock in Springfield, Illinois.<ref>Gruen, Madeleine,[http://www.nefafoundation.org/miscellaneous/FeaturedDocs/nefa_fintontargetamerica.pdf  "Attempt to Attack the Paul Findley Federal Building in Springfield, Illinois"]{{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120301022613/http://www.nefafoundation.org/miscellaneous/FeaturedDocs/nefa_fintontargetamerica.pdf |date=March 1, 2012 }}," The NEFA Foundation, December 2009, accessed December 18, 2009</ref>

===Other concerns===
* Operators of the [[Physics:Open-pool Australian lightwater reactor|Lucas Heights nuclear reactor]] in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia asked Google to censor high-resolution pictures of the facility.<ref name="ABCAUNukeFears">{{cite web |url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/indepth/featureitems/s1432602.htm| title=Google Earth prompts security fears | website=Australian Broadcasting Corporation | access-date=January 25, 2007 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070124105253/http://www.abc.net.au/news/indepth/featureitems/s1432602.htm |archive-date = January 24, 2007}}</ref> They later withdrew the request.<ref name="SearchViewsAussieNukeReqDropped">{{cite web|url=http://searchviews.com/archives/2005/08/aussie_nuclear.php|title=Aussie Nuclear Reactor on Google Earth|access-date=January 25, 2007|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061017173952/http://searchviews.com/archives/2005/08/aussie_nuclear.php|archive-date=October 17, 2006}}</ref>
* In 2009, Google superimposed old woodblock prints of maps from 18th- and 19th-century Japan over Japan today. These maps marked areas inhabited by the ''burakumin'' caste, formerly known as '''eta''' (穢多), literally "abundance of defilement", who were considered "non-humans" for their "dirty" occupations, including leather tanning and butchery. Descendants of members of the burakumin caste still face discrimination today and many Japanese people feared that some would use these areas, labeled ''etamura'' (穢多村 "eta village"), to target current inhabitants of them. These maps are still visible on Google Earth, but with the label removed where necessary.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/asia/article6337499.ece |title=Google Earth maps out discrimination against burakumin caste in Japan |publisher=Timesonline.co.uk |date= May 22, 2009 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20090927080209/http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/asia/article6337499.ece | archive-date = September 27, 2009 |access-date= January 10, 2018}}</ref>
* Late 2000s versions of Google Earth require a software component running in the background that will automatically download and install updates. Several users expressed concerns that there is not an easy way to disable this updater, as it runs without the permission of the user.<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.wired.com/epicenter/2009/02/why-googles-sof/|title=Why Google's Software Update Tool Is Evil | magazine=Wired | first=Scott|last=Gilbertson|date=February 13, 2009}}</ref>
*In February 2014, the Berlin-based ART+COM charged that Google Earth products infringe U.S. Patent No. RE44,550, entitled "Method and Device for Pictorial Representation of Space-related Data" and had remarkable similarity to Terravision which was developed by ART+COM in 1993 and patented in 1995.<ref name="eweek">{{Cite web |last=Weiss |first=Todd R. |date=2014-02-22 |title=Google Sued for Alleged Google Earth Patent Infringement |url=https://www.eweek.com/cloud/google-sued-for-alleged-google-earth-patent-infringement |access-date=2021-10-23 |website=eWEEK |language=en-US}}</ref> The court decided against Art+Com both at trial<ref name=":2">{{Cite case|title=ART+COM Innovationpool GmbH v. Google LLC |id=1:14-cv-00217|via=CourtListener|url=https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/4220416/artcom-innovationpool-gmbh-v-google-llc/|access-date=2021-10-24|language=en-us}}</ref> and on appeal<ref name=":3">{{Cite case|title=Art+Com Innovationpool v. Google |url=https://caselaw.findlaw.com/us-federal-circuit/1878050.html|access-date=2021-10-24|via=Findlaw|language=en-US}}</ref> because trial testimony showed that Art+Com was aware of an existing, substantially similar invention that it failed to mention as "prior art" in its patent application, thereby invalidating their patent. Stephen Lau, a former employee of federally funded, not-for-profit Stanford Research Institute ("SRI") testified that he helped develop SRI TerraVision, an earth visualization application, and that he wrote 89% of the code. He further testified that he shared and discussed SRI Terravision code with Art+Com. Both systems used a multi-resolution pyramid of imagery to let users zoom from high to low altitudes, and both were called Terravision. Art+Com agreed to rename their product because SRI's came first. Stephen Lau died from COVID-19 in March 2020.[https://www.dignitymemorial.com/obituaries/pelham-al/stephen-wong-lau-9106466]

== In popular culture ==
Google Earth is featured prominently in the 2021 German miniseries ''The Billion Dollar Code'', which serves as a fictionalized account of a 2014 patent infringement lawsuit brought against Google by the German creators of Terravision.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.dw.com/en/the-billion-dollar-code-the-battle-over-google-earth/a-59433376|title='The Billion Dollar Code': The battle over Google Earth|work=Deutsche Welle|date= October 7, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211011050817/https://www.dw.com/en/the-billion-dollar-code-the-battle-over-google-earth/a-59433376|archive-date=October 11, 2021|access-date=October 11, 2021}}</ref> The series, which was shown on Netflix is prefaced by an episode of interviews with the ART+COM developers of TerraVision and their legal representative.<ref>{{cite web |title=The Billion Dollar Code |url=https://www.netflix.com/watch/81187101?trackId=200257858 |website=Netflix.com |publisher=Netflix |access-date=22 October 2021}}</ref>

One of the co-founders of Keyhole has published a first-hand account claiming to debunk the origins, timelines and interpretations depicted in the fictionalized miniseries.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Bar-Zeev|first=Avi|date=2021-10-14|title=Was Google Earth Stolen?|url=https://avibarzeev.medium.com/was-google-earth-stolen-7d1b821e589b|access-date=2021-10-17|website=Medium|language=en}}</ref>

== See also ==
*[[Software:Space flight simulation game|Space flight simulation game]]
**[[Software:List of space flight simulation games|List of space flight simulation games]]
*[[Software:Planetarium software|Planetarium software]]
*[[Software:List of observatory software|List of observatory software]]
* Orthophotomap, the type of aerial and satellite imagery present in Google Earth
* [[Virtual globe]], the category of software that includes Google Earth
* Web mapping

== References ==
{{Reflist|30em}}

== External links ==
<!-- Do not add commercial sites, social sites, discussion sites, community sites, games, or weblogs. Also, do not add links to other wikis that are not very large and stable. -->
{{GeoGroup}}
* [https://www.blog.google/products/maps/ Official Google Maps and Earth blog]
* [https://www.google.com/earth/outreach/index.html Google Earth Outreach]

{{Google Inc.}}
{{Android}}
{{Earth}}

[[Category:Google software|Earth]]
[[Category:Android (operating system) software]]
[[Category:GIS software]]
[[Category:IOS software]]
[[Category:Internet software for Linux]]
[[Category:MacOS Internet software]]
[[Category:Remote sensing software]]
[[Category:Software that uses Qt]]
[[Category:Windows Internet software]]
[[Category:Satellite imagery]]

{{Sourceattribution|Google Earth}}