Previously only available through Google Earth, you can now access Google Sky online here:
http://www.google.com/sky

Via the Google Blog:
http://googleblog.blogspot.com/2008/03/space-jam.html

So ugly in black, it hurts my eyes. So slow to load the map, too.
Weird they didn't make the UI similar to Google Maps's one (no My Maps, "Link to this page" to the left, etc.)

I like the general idea of black, but not the orange or weird purple that makes is somehow just like a negative, not a new dark UI

Also, pluto is included as a planet...

Lol good pick James, as usual :)

Other than the colour scheme, I love it!

James
Looks like Google's living BWPWAP :-)

i actualy like the color scheme. Im not a big fan of the UI though. I don think it should be exactly like google maps since right now you dont need directions or anything but it does seem clutered. I think the buttons could be moved to the gray bar above the map. And the bottom bar should be able to be toggled.

This idea was there for ages. There were several similar projects before hand (especially deskop applications). What matters here, as in most cases, is the implementation. So far I'm not that impressed with Google's implementation.

that site has crashed IE 7 three times. Make that four.
Works OK with FF.

three months ago to develop this is awsome.. and by an intern to boot!!

They mention he was helped by employees on their 20% time, though it's still cool. Hopefully it will be quicker loading though!

I can just see the amount of money that 3rd party companies can make by allowing you to register a star in your name and now view its location in Google Sky with the help of a kml file.

http://www.google.com/search?source=ig&hl=en&rlz=&q=buy+a+star+in+your+name

Neat! I picked the most blank-looking parts of the map I saw, and ended up near this pair of colliding galaxies!

http://www.google.com/sky/#latitude=22.082140420322656&longitude=2.349700927734375&zoom=12&Spitzer=0.00&ChandraXO=0.00&Galex=0.00&IRAS=0.00&WMAP=0.00&Cassini=0.00&slide=1&mI=-1&oI=-1&by=1

Too bad I don't know how to look up further information, though. :(

The fixed projection they used makes viewing objects near the celestial poles difficult. For instance, you wouldn't see Ursa Minor (the Little Dipper) constellation on Google's Sky Map as it looks when you look at the sky.

The website sky-map.org, which I think has been mentioned here on Blogoscoped before, fixes this problem by reprojecting the sky map when you go to certain declinations (latitudes), like showing a polar projection when you're near the poles. This somewhat destroys the smooth slippy map feel popularized by Google Maps, but is really more useful for astronomers, professional or amateur.

Colin, sounds like a great "gift card" service... "Hello Jane, I named a star Jane20080622 for your birthday, view it online at [frameset at sendastar.com wrapping Google Sky + KML layer]..." :)

Why is it that when you choose Earth (among the planets) it changes to Google Earth, but when you choose Mars it does not change to Google Mars?

Wow, I've read about this feature months ago. It was already fun "flying" through Google Earth, through the cities of the world, and it'd be more fun "flying" through outer space!

Of course, it's already a given that Google Earth and Google Sky may well be originally intended for more "scientific" and "serious" uses, but then if you need an escape from the rat race called Life, apps and services like these from Google could be a good alternative to mainstream games. :)

[Signature URL removed – Tony]

any idea why the Google (c) watermark is reversed on many (all?) photos?

Eric – it's because Mars is in the sky, but Earth isn't and couldn't be displayed otherwise.

Huh, when I first saw it yesterday a few hours after the post, there were little circular icons everywhere for all the stars and galaxies and nebulae that would tell you what they were at the bottom when you hovered or gave you a detailed overview when you clicked. Now they're gone.

James that's true, the "Backyard Astronomy" button can still be seen on the presentation video, but seems to be removed from the interface.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gX9MeF2Au9c

There is a Backyard Astronomy link at the bottom of Google Sky. Was that there before?
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2069/2335273667_b91eba477f_o.png