World Wide Telescope Goes Live

Microsoft have finally gone live with their version of Google Sky. Its called the World Wide Telescope and is now available from Microsoft at http://www.worldwidetelescope.org. I heard about this project a while ago when it was announced at TED and was excited from the get go. More info after the jump.

Currently Microsoft have about 20 terabytes of data that make up the visual experience, which will be updated on a regular basis. This equates to about 1.2 million books.
One of the features that Microsoft has been keen on is the ability for anyone from professional astronomers to amateur viewers to be able to use the software. This should enable the tool as a teaching aid to school children and other novices.
This is what Dr Roy Gould of the Harvard-Smithsonian Centre for Astrophysics had to say about the new software tool.

"Galileo's telescope started to give us views of the universe that no one else
had seen before and we started asking what was out there and why. And I think
the WorldWide Telescope is going to do the same thing for the rest of us, In terms of pushing the envelope, this really pushes the envelope."

I cant wait to get this going and see if it is as good as its supposed to be.

R2D2 is Cool as Ice.

Here is the new R2D2 ice box. This will go nicely along side the R2D2 projection unit, the R2D2 rubbish bin and the R2D2 remote control toy.
Not only do you get the funky ice box but you also get the Han Solo ice cube tray to make your very own carbonite ice sculptures. Jump for the pics.

Not only do you get the funky ice box but you also get the Han Solo ice cube tray to make your very own carbonite ice sculptures.