The Most Spectacular Sights in Google Sky

Since its introduction two years ago, Google Earth has been a great way to travel around our world and see some of its bizarre sights. Last month the search giant introduced a new Google Earth feature, Google Sky, which lets you travel the far reaches of the universe, often in startling and beautiful clarity. High-resolution images from NASA's Hubble Space Telescope, the Space Telescope Science Institute, the Sloan Digital Sky Survey, and the Digital Sky Survey Consortium give you incredible close-ups from deep space. From nebulae and galaxies to stars and comets, we've collected just a few of the breathtaking and spectacular sights in Google Sky. To get started on your own outer-space adventure, download the most recent version of Google Earth software. Launch the application, go to the View menu, and select Switch to Sky. To fly to each of the destinations we spotlight, copy the astrological identifier (we've placed them in parentheses) and paste it into Google Sky's 'Search the Sky' box. We've also created a file of Placemarks that includes all of these sights and more; download it and open it with Google Earth. Ready to blast off? -- Tom Spring