The Internet search company has struck a partnership with scientists building a huge sky-scanning telescope, with hopes of helping the public access digital footage of asteroids, supernovas and distant galaxies.More info at Mercury News.
Officials say Google's technical expertise and vast data processing capacity will be an invaluable help, even for a project that has access to some of the country's leading research institutions.
"Google's ability to do large database queries and to service that data is unmatched, I would say," said Donald Sweeney, manager of the Large Synoptic Survey Telescope, or LSST.
Google's broad public imprint should also bring more mainstream attention to the project, which could be crucial as the $350 million telescope competes for public and private money.
Google to map the Universe
Posted on Monday, January 08 2007 @ 4:05 CET by Thomas De Maesschalck