Google Earth

[CJ]

If you've got broadband, go and download Google Earth, great piece of software - http://earth.google.com/

The blurb:

Want to know more about a specific location? Dive right in -- Google Earth combines satellite imagery, maps and the power of Google Search to put the world's geographic information at your fingertips.

Its like the old MS Terraserver project from a few years back but a million times better.

CJ

[JJ]

I've been having some real fun with that looking at old houses. Have you seen the 3D New York?

[CByrne]

This is a class program. It's a shame some places are not mapped yet, and there is only so far you can zoom in on before it blurs, but still you could spend hours on it.
I think there are versions and add ons you can buy, is there much extra on them does anyone know?

[kevinod]

I haven't downloaded this myself yet, but sounds a bit like Nasa's World Wind?

http://worldwind.arc.nasa.gov/

Blurb:
World Wind lets you zoom from satellite altitude into any place on Earth. Leveraging Landsat satellite imagery and Shuttle Radar Topography Mission data, World Wind lets you experience Earth terrain in visually rich 3D, just as if you were really there.

Virtually visit any place in the world. Look across the Andes, into the Grand Canyon, over the Alps, or along the African Sahara.