Google Maps: New 45° imagery for fun in the sun

Spring is in the air and it’s time to put away those jackets, dust off your shorts and get ready to see some sunshine! The Geo Imagery team has been hard at work in our snow covered buildings in Mountain View to get the latest set of imagery ready for everyone to enjoy.

When you think of sunshine, the first place that comes to mind for a lot people is Honolulu HI of course! With 45° in hand, scope out the ocean views from beachside hotels. You can check out Diamondhead, the coastline or the golf courses to reminisce on the vacation you’ve always wanted.

Waikiki, Honolulu, Hawaii

If you’re not the type that likes to watch the sunset while sipping on mai tais, then maybe a nice glass of wine on a piazza in Rome is more up your alley. Visit the Colosseum, Vatican City or Trevi Fountain all from the comfort of your own home. You can plan out your vacation first, then see it in person!


Colosseum, Rome, Italy

But if your true definition of love is being in the outdoors, by yourself and a set of golf clubs, nothing beats Palm Springs, CA, where there are over 120 golf courses. Believe it or not, Sonny Bono was mayor here from 1988–1992!


Palm Springs, CA

Keep an eye out for future updates, we’re always working hard to make sure our users get the latest and greatest imagery. For our full list of 45° imagery, see where we are in My Maps.

High Resolution Aerial Updates:
St Louis, MO
Honolulu, HI
New Orleans, LA
Rome, Italy
North Austin, TX
West Norfolk, VA
Scottsdale, AZ
San Rafael, CA
Palm Springs, CA
Lake Forest, CA
Boulder City, NV

From Bermuda to the Bahamas with the Sargasso Sea Expedition

Have you ever dreamed of setting sail across the Bermuda Triangle? Well, now you can follow the recent MBARI Sargasso Sea Expedition virtually by reading a series of posts from the cruise in Google Earth. To follow this sea expedition, download the complete log kml or visit the Earth Gallery.

MBARI (Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute) researchers and scientists from the University of Hawaii, University of Miami and Stanford University sailed 940 miles (1500 km) from Bermuda to the Bahamas across the North Atlantic Ocean through the Sargasso Sea. Their goal was to better understand this unique ocean habitat which is named for the free-floating brown algae Sargassum (also called “gulf weed”) and its associated community of marine life. Under the direction of Chief Scientist Ken Smith, the expedition team measured biodiversity and the impacts of climate change and carbon cycling to this ecosystem. They also learned more about deep ocean animals.

See a school of eels swarming around bait anchored to the sea floor.

The mission is the second voyage for the Schmidt Ocean Institute ship, Lone Ranger, whose Facebook page you can follow here, a former ocean tug that has been retrofitted for cutting-edge science investigations.

You can follow the MBARI Expedition Logbook to read a day by day account of the Expedition.

Posted by Jenifer Foulkes, Product Manager, the Ocean in Google Earth & Maps