Microsoft launches web version of WorldWide Telescope

Microsoft's WorldWide Telescope is a bit like Google Earth or (Virtual Earth) for the sky. The Windows program includes tons of data and visual astronomy that lets you explore the sky. Plus there are a number of guided tours of particular areas of interest with voice overs from expert astronomers.

Now you can access WorldWide Telescope from a web browser without downloading and installing the software. Well, sort of. The WorldWide Telescope web client runs on Microsoft's Silverlight, which isn't quite as ubiquitous as Adobe Flash. So you might need to download and install Silverlight before the web client will work. Versions of Silverlight are available for Windows, Mac, and Linux, which means you can run the web client on most popular operating systems.

[via Bink.nu]

Tags: silverlight, worldwide-telescope