NASA, Microsoft make planetary data public

WASHINGTON, March 24 (UPI) -- The U.S. space agency and the Microsoft Corp. say they will make planetary images and data available via the Internet under a Space Act Agreement.

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration said it and Microsoft will develop the technology and infrastructure necessary to make the NASA content -- including high-resolution scientific images and data from Mars and the moon -- explorable on WorldWide Telescope, which is what Microsoft calls its online virtual telescope for exploring the universe.

"Making NASA's scientific and astronomical data more accessible to the public is a high priority for NASA, especially given the new administration's recent emphasis on open government and transparency," said Ed Weiler, associate administrator of NASA's Science Mission Directorate.

Officials said the WorldWide Telescope is a visualization environment that functions as a virtual telescope, bringing together imagery from ground and space telescopes for a seamless, media guided exploration of the universe. It will allow people to view the most interesting locations on Mars and the moon without distorted views at the poles.

A free download of the WorldWide Telescope software is available at http://www.worldwidetelescope.org.