# Google earth question

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/google-earth-question/423278>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [October 19, 2007, 7:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/google-earth-question/423278 "2007-10-19T07:08:28Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Chrismoody](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f6c823/32.png) [@Chrismoody](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chrismoody)\
**Post date:** [October 19, 2007, 7:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/google-earth-question/423278/1 "2007-10-19T07:08:28Z")

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I read recently that a google earth satellite has been launched and will be gathering data from around the world.

A couple questions:

1. How soon will the data be inserted into google earth? (It must take some time to stitch and organize the images)

2. What areas will be of high importance? (will it just start at the top and work its way down or will it hit specific cities… more specifically… will I eventually see my house which is a random blur because its rural or will they keep on updating popular locations).

3. Will the updates be available for the free version of google earth? (I know there’s a professional and a business version out there as well)

Thanks in advance.

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**Author:** ![Colophon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f05b48/32.png) [@Colophon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colophon)\
**Post date:** [October 19, 2007, 3:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/google-earth-question/423278/2 "2007-10-19T15:25:57Z")

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The new satellite is not really anything to do with Google. It’s been launched by DigitalGlobe, who supply satellite imagery to lots of people, including Google.

I can’t answer your specific queries, but I would imagine that the data will be incorporated into all versions of Google Earth. It’s not like it’s a special premium Google satellite or anything.

[Here’s the news wire story from last month](http://www.reuters.com/article/technologyNews/idUSN1445933620070914?feedType=RSS&feedName=technologyNews&sp=true).

I’d add this though: don’t expect lots of high-resolution stuff because of this. The satellite derived images on GE are not that high-res. The high-res close-up stuff of cities is taken from aircraft.

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**Author:** ![Colophon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f05b48/32.png) [@Colophon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colophon)\
**Post date:** [October 19, 2007, 3:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/google-earth-question/423278/3 "2007-10-19T15:34:51Z")

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Just done a bit more poking around…

The [Google Earth Blog](http://www.gearthblog.com/blog/archives/2007/09/new_google_earth_satellite_launchin.html) has a bit more info:

> [@](#):
>
> Those of you who are eager to see more Google Earth imagery should realize it typically takes about 6 months for a satellite to be fully tested after its launch before new data becomes available for use. This new satellite will not mean Google Earth will suddenly have live data. It will still be typically several weeks to a few months before new data is put into Google Earth.