Google Earth 5.0 for Linux

Feb 03, 2009

The new version 5.0 of the Google Earth exploratory 3D software provides excursions into ocean depths, to Mars and into the past. The official release will also include a Linux variant.

A so-called bathymetric map of the ocean done through Google Earth provides a topographical view of its depths. In some places Google included videos by oceanographic researcher Jacques Cousteau that provide a seamless transition from the virtual to the real underwater world.

Back on the surface the user can travel into the past with the new software. Google Earth developers assembled old maps and satellite images to provide a historical view of certain world locations, such as the transformation of Silicon Valley from a farming community to a high tech center.

If the Earth were not enough, then why not explore Mars? Thanks to NASA, Google Earth also provides photos of Mars's surface, some in high resolution. Individual tours can be saved; hikes and bicycle trips (but not on Mars!) can be executed ahead of time. To evaluate Google Earth, download the software from here.

Related content

  • Google Earth

    Google Earth lets you view the world from space and zoom in on towns, roads, and even buildings. We’ll show you how to travel the planet from your Linux desktop.

  • Google Earth

    Google Earth lets you view the world from space and zoom in on towns, roads, and buildings. We’ll show you how to travel our planet’s surface, its cities, and even the sky from your desktop.

  • Palomino: Competition for Flightgear

    The GPL flight simulator Palomino from Jim Brooks has, with the integration of OSSIM and the 3D graphic tool OpenSceneGraph, become serious competition for Flightgear.

  • Google Sky

    Google has maps and photos of nearly all of the earth’s surface. Now Google Sky lets you explore space, with the Moon and Mars enjoying a special status.

  • Offline Access to Google Docs with Gears

    Gears is an open source application that allows users offline access to Google's documents and spreadsheets. But not entirely problem-free.

Comments

  • It's really a beta software yet..

    I try to install on 4 machines and just the one 32 bits with nvidea video card i could make it work ....
    Still very beta stage.. in my opinion....
comments powered by Disqus
Subscribe to our Linux Newsletters
Find Linux and Open Source Jobs
Subscribe to our ADMIN Newsletters

Support Our Work

Linux Magazine content is made possible with support from readers like you. Please consider contributing when you’ve found an article to be beneficial.

Learn More

News