Microsoft co-operation with NASA to create a virtual telescope

According to foreign media reports on March 25, Microsoft and the U.S. space agency said on March 24 announced the establishment of cooperative relations, the cooperation will allow the software giant telescope of the virtual world (WorldWide Telescope) was the United States and other NASA Mars a large number of photographs of celestial bodies. 

 NASA and Microsoft will jointly develop a system so that the public can come into contact with Mars, the Moon and Other Celestial Bodies, the universe of high-definition photos and scientific information and on-line website at worldwidetelescope.org  to explore the universe. NASA's science mission, deputy director of the Commission ‧ Edie Wheeler (Ed Weiler), said: 『for NASA, the primary problem is to allow the public easier access to U.S. scientific and astronomical information, particularly in the new The Government has recently focused on Chief will govern the case of open and transparent. 』 

 A few years ago, the search engine giant Google and U.S. space agency set up on the co-operation, the U.S. space agency to provide a lot of scientific photographs, to enhance the functions of Google Earth. At this free service provided by Google Earth three-dimensional photographs of Mars, the spacecraft real-time tracking information and a virtual trip to Mars and so on. Microsoft said the U.S. space agency will provide them with more than 100 TB of data, the global web telescope will begin later this year to integrate the information, including the August 2005 launch of the Mars Exploration Orbiter (MRO) photographs from the So far in 2006, scientists have been studying these photos. 

 Microsoft Research is responsible for external affairs vice president, Tony ‧ Hoey (Tony Hey) Say: 『such cooperation will enable people all over the world can be at the rich and interactive environment of the Moon and Mars in detail View the new photos. Want to explore the space and experience the achievements of computer science and computer technology developers, educators and students, the world's most powerful telescope instrument. 』 

 Global Telescope website will soon have  moon orbiter (LRO) photographs. The probe is scheduled to launch in May this year, aims to collect environmental information surface of the moon. Global Telescope website on line a year ago, the integration of ground and space telescope photographs analog observation to the effect of the vastness of the universe. 

 NASA Ames Research Center Director Pete Worden ‧ (Pete Worden), said: 『NASA is excited to work with Microsoft to establish cooperation with students and those who live z owl owl Quan Shu  go together to share their photos massive planet . This is an impressive astronomy resources, help to inspire our next generation to explore the passion of astronomy. 』