The Blue Site

Google Maps (Now with Satellite Images)

A satellite image of downtown Los Angeles (you'll notice Library Tower) from Google Maps. (Click picture for larger version)

Whenever I wanted to map out directions, or just check out maps of certain areas (a hobby of sorts), I used to always go to Yahoo! Maps...but, now I go to Google Maps. That is, after reading a news story on how Google added satellite images to go along with their maps. The setup is awesome...you can type in an address and get a map of the area, or you can even type in a landmark (Yankee Stadium for example), the right side of the screen will search for the term you put in, and the map will show up in the big box in the middle and left of screen. You can easily zoom in and out, and you can easily move noth, south, east, and west all over the US, and the globe actually, to find any site. You can then click "satellite" and it brings up satellite images of the area of the map. You can also zoom in and out and move all over the place with the satellite images as well.

From what I have seen, the major American cities have very detailed satellite images that you can view, easily finding anything in any city you can think of. You can zoom in really close, getting down to the area where you can see the cars on the road and such. I find it interesting to go to major cities on the map and find the airport, which allows you to view all the nice nifty planes on the various runways and airstrips.

I've always been fascinated by maps in general...and maps with corresponding satellite images via google are just perfect. You could use this free service for a number of things- from finding directions (of course) to checking out real estate...this sort of thing could be great for any number of things.