next generation of Sky in Google Earth

[Carol Christian]

On Jan 22, 2008, at 11:34 AM, Alberto Conti wrote:

> Moved this thread to apps, as requested.
>
>>> Google has given us a new IVOA standard, it's KML, and we'd  
>>> better get used to the idea.  Possibly the IVOA should accept the  
>>> status quo and officially adopt it. It might give us a (very)  
>>> little bit more leverage.
>> This I find a strange set of statements. Google has not "given us"  
>> anything.
>> Rather I would say they have made a somewhat ropy standard without  
>> external consultation, a standard that does not carry rich  
>> metadata and has very poor image support.
>
> Version 2.2 of KML allows for user defined fields and has a much  
> better support of metadata.
> As for image support, I honestly think it's way better than  
> VOTable. The key is that is was produced with very little input  
> from the community (a mistake indeed, but one that I am not sure  
> was avoidable) because KML was already a standard for the GIS  
> community and the roots of GSky are in GEarth. Besides, if I recall  
> correctly, when GoogleSky was first presented there was little  
> interest to collaborate with industry on this.

Except us.
>
>> Obviously we astronomers are forced into using this hand-me-down  
>> from the geo people, because Google has billions of dollars and  
>> billions of customers.
> not really. The astronomical community is small enough that it can  
> go on and develop their own standards regardless of efforts from  
> Google (or Microsoft for that matter): no one will care outside  
> astronomy what standard we use. On the other hand, if we want to be  
> able to reach a wider audience, for outreach in the short term for  
> example, then we need to pay attention of what others are doing.  
> Microsoft's WWT I believe will also support KML but perhaps they  
> will come out with their own standard that will be better than KML.  
> Is anyone engaging the WWT in the NVO to make sure that if it's not  
> KML astronomers have a voice?
>
>> Surely what we need is not just a blanket Recommendation of KML as  
>> it exists now, but rather VO representation at the OGC meetings?  
>> Does anyone know anyone at OGC?
>>
> I might. Looking into it.
> -A

I have interacted with OGC a bit over the years in my Earth observing  
work.

- Carol

>
>> Roy
>>
>> -- 
>>
>> California Institute of Technology
>> 626 395 3670
>>
>
> Dr Alberto Conti
> Community Missions Office
> Space Telescope Science Institute
> contact | tel: 410-338-4534 | aim: wscience
>
>
>

Dr. Carol Christian
Deputy, Community Missions Office
& Education Director, NVO
Space Telescope Science Institute
contact | Tel: 410-338-4764 | .mac: cac01

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