Have you tried this yet?

http://maps.google.com/

Very cool, in the upper right hand corner is the satellite option. Pop in most any address and hit satellite. Pretty amazing !!

I love Google's maps -- didn't see the satellite link until you pointed it out. Neat! Those are more recent images than I've seen at other satellite image sites, too.

Cool! I tried with my home address and it showed wrong place on same street!

It showed mine perfectly. Someone else here in the County Extension office, though, said that the image was taken 4-5 years ago because her house isn't shown and they've been there at least that long.

I looked up the Wal-Mart Super Center's address in our town and it shows a field where the store and strip mall are now. The Wal-Mart opened in January 2002, so that means the local satellite image had to have been taken at least a year prior to that.

Hoping that since Google purchased Digital Globe, they'll be pumping some resources in to update the satellite shots :)

I saw this mentioned on the Today Show this morning. I just now tried it out and it was right on the money...except it said the driving time from my DD's house to mine (1.9 mi) was 4 minutes....they sure didn't take into consideration the pot holes we have on our dirt roads! LOL Jo

Great fun!

The map of my area is missing roads that have been here about 12 years and the satellite image is at least 2 and a half year old - maybe older.

I had lots of fun looking up childhood homes, too!

Cool! I looked our address up and printed it out for DH. We agree that it doesn't show all our little trees yet, but hopefully they will update it every couple years. It would be fun to watch how it evolves.

You know what's really neat? I found this method of using Google's location search tonight while looking for hotels around the Cincy Roundup's spot. Try this:

1. Go to maps.google.com and put in an address so it brings up a map for you

2. Next, click the "local search" link above the search field. Your current map will remain, but you'll see a different search tool appear the top.

3. In the first blank field, the "WHAT" field, type a search term (they give the example "pizza").

4. You'll notice the second blank, the "WHERE" field, says "the map area below" by default...Leave it that way.

5. Click the SEARCH button (or just hit enter after typing in your category word).

Google will then flag locations on the local map that match your search criteria. Each flag is clickable and pops up with the item's address and any link associated with it.

Thanks gw - yes, that is really neat :)

When I tried it I did get my home location but no photo. Maybe I missed clicking something, will try again.
Later, no satelitte for my area. Too remote I guess.

This message was edited Apr 12, 2005 8:03 AM

My husband was all excited the other day and had to show me this. There are other sites where he has looked up the satellite images in the past, but it's a new feature on Google now. Elsewhere on the web, too (I don't know where else he goes... I should ask him) we've found the same thing: that the images are a little outdated. Google Maps is a great tool. We use it every time we go on a road trip, need directions, want to find restaurants/businesses in a certain area, etc.

Mary, sometimes if you're zoomed in too far, the satellite image does not work. Try clicking the minus sign and expanding your view of the area a bit.

This sort of thing worries me. From a law enforcement viewpoint ... I'm just wondering how this helps criminals. If someone has a grudge against a person ... isn't this helpful? I'm not sure I like everyone to be able to look up my address over the internet. Maybe I'm the only one to consider this.

True, but still...Information's been available to anyone really seeking it for years; it's easier to come by now, but PI's have been able to track people down by paper trail and other methods for decades.