Google Earth
Google Earth is a free virtual globe application from Google that lets you explore satellite imagery, 3D terrain, Street View, and historical photographs of any location on the planet. The desktop Pro version has been free since 2017. It runs on Windows, macOS, and Linux, with a lighter web version available in Chrome browsers.
What it does
Type any address, city, or landmark into the search bar and Google Earth flies you there. You can zoom from a full view of the globe down to individual buildings, tilt the camera to see mountains and skyscrapers in 3D, and drop into Street View by dragging the Pegman icon onto any blue-highlighted road. The imagery covers virtually the entire planet, though resolution varies by region.
The Historical Imagery slider (View > Historical Imagery) lets you scroll through satellite photos taken over the past two decades. You can watch cities expand, glaciers retreat, or forests disappear. The Ruler tool measures distances and areas by clicking points on the map. You can create your own placemarks, paths, and polygons, then save or export them as KML/KMZ files to share with others.
Voyager, accessible from the left panel, offers curated tours and stories created in partnership with organizations like NASA, BBC, and National Geographic. These guided experiences combine narration, satellite imagery, and 3D views to tell stories about nature, culture, history, and science.
Advantages
- Satellite imagery and 3D terrain for the entire planet, completely free
- Historical imagery spanning over 20 years of changes
- Street View integration for ground-level exploration
- KML/KMZ import and export for custom map data
Drawbacks
- Desktop application uses significant RAM and GPU resources
- Satellite imagery in rural and developing areas can be low resolution or outdated
- 3D building coverage is limited to major cities
- No offline mode for the desktop version, requires constant internet connection
Who it is for
I use Google Earth whenever I need to scout a location before visiting, check how a neighborhood has changed over time, or simply satisfy curiosity about a place on the other side of the world. It is genuinely useful for planning trips, understanding geography, and exploring areas you will never physically visit. For professionals who work with geographic data, the KML import and measurement tools make it a practical companion to dedicated GIS software.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Google Earth Pro still free?
What is the difference between Google Earth and Google Maps?
Does Google Earth work offline?
Features & How-To Guide
| # | Feature | How to use |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Worldwide satellite photo browsing | Launch Google Earth › Type a location in the search box or rotate the globe with the mouse › Scroll to zoom. |
| 2 | Street View virtual tours | Drag the Pegman icon (yellow figure) onto the map › Drop on a blue-highlighted street › Navigate with arrow keys. |
| 3 | Distance and area measurement | Tools › Ruler › Select Line/Path/Polygon › Click points on the map › Distance displayed in the chosen unit. |
| 4 | Historical satellite photo browsing | View › Historical Imagery (or the clock icon in the toolbar) › Drag the time slider › Compare terrain changes over the years. |
| 5 | Route and map marker creation | Add › Placemark / Path / Polygon › Click on the map › Enter a name and description › Save in My Places. |
| 6 | Display buildings and terrain in 3D | Layers › Check 3D Buildings and Terrain › Hold scroll and tilt the view › Buildings and mountains displayed in three dimensions. |
| 7 | Voyager narrative exploration | Click the helm icon (Voyager) in the left panel › Browse tours and stories from National Geographic and NASA. |
| 8 | Data import from other browser | File › Open › Select KML or KMZ file › Data displayed on the map. Export: right-click an element › Save Place As. |
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