This is just too cool! Someone photoshopped a NASA astronaut photo and created a screen overlay in Google Earth that just makes browsing the Earth a lot of fun! The photo is a little weird to look at because it shows the astronaut’s reflecting helmet mask with his arms seen out front. But, the fun part is imagining yourself as an astronaut flying around in Google Earth. The mode gives the same sensation whether you use it in Google Sky mode, or in Google Earth mode. Download the astronaut overlay here (577 KBytes). Choose whether you want Sky or Earth mode (you must be using GE 4.2 or greater). The file was posted at the Google Earth Community. This is truly amazing – check it out!

NOTE: to turn off the astronaut, simply look in the Temporary Places folder in your Places pane for “SpaceSuit” and turn it off.
By the way, the astronaut also works well with the Google Earth flight simulator mode, or even better if you use the SpaceNavigator (the 3D mouse I use every day with Google Earth). A couple tips on creating screen overlays: KML documentation, or a free application on making them by FreeGeographyTools.
About Frank Taylor
Frank Taylor started the Google Earth Blog in July, 2005 shortly after Google Earth was first released. He has worked with 3D computer graphics and VR for many years and was very impressed with this exciting product. Frank completed a 5.5 year circumnavigation of the earth by sailboat in June 2015 which you can read about at Tahina Expedition, and is a licensed pilot, backpacker, diver, and photographer.
Oh no — this just gave me some really fun ideas.
The first thing I’m going to do is imagine falling out of a space ship and landing at my house
Wow this is awesome. I’m probably goign to spend countless hours on this 😛
imagine falling out of a space ship and landing at my house
That’s so amazing!
Thanks for the link, Frank.
Thats pretty cool!
Try this: Use the astronaut vew on the flight sim in marte. Use the SR22 at low velocity at +/- 18 km from the grownd and make rowtations. Its fun!!!
Wow, does the image distort anything else? I honestly think it’ll just make me afraid of space.
this is just dumb… if it was a reflection everything would be backwards and it isnt… nice try but it makes you look stupid
Dude thats pretty cool……I wish it was me who took that picture….
LOl its a reflection