Microsoft's WorldWide Telescope Expands To The Web

Microsoft's WorldWide Telescope is now available as a web application.

If you didn't want to install the downloadable file onto your computer, Microsoft's WorldWide Telescope can now be used in your web browser. I tested it in Firefox, Internet Explorer, and Safari and it performed well in all three browsers.

When you first visit the site, you see the site, but with an overlay.
The overlay states that the "WorldWide Telescope needs local storage to run. Select Yes when prompted to increase available storage"
Clicking on it causes a window to pop-up that says:
'Do you want to increase available storage? The following Web site is requesting more application storage space on your computer.'
You can answer yes or no - if you answer no, the window fades away and doesn't come back on repeat visits, unless you clean out your browser cookies. I didn't answer yes at any point.

Its a very large site with lots of areas.
There are tabs at the top of the page; Explore, Guided Tours, Search, View and Settings. All offer options to explore the many functions of the site. Then there are folders at the top that go interesting places like Black Holes, Supernova's, Nebula's and other Cosmic Events.

There are several views you can choose: Sky, Earth, Planet, and Panoramas. You can also change the date, time, and observing location that you want to view and whether you want to see the horizon or not.

I was surprised to read that since this is a virtual telescope, none of the information is transmitted in real time. Instead, what you see is taken from several locations then meshed into a whole presentation.

A few features (not many) need the downloadable program for PC's to function, such as connecting your telescope to the World Wide Telescope.

Microsoft WorldWide Telescope    requires Microsoft Silverlight

Signing off,
Rhiannon

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