next generation of Sky in Google Earth

[Rob Seaman]

On Jan 22, 2008, at 9:34 AM, Alberto Conti wrote:

> 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.

Can somebody comment on the future of KML from a GIS perspective?  The  
Earth's poles are guaranteed to become ever more interesting as global  
warming moves them to the front lines of Mother Earth's battle against  
the invading hordes.  Astronomers are also interested in observing  
sites in Antarctica, not just the celestial poles, but lots of parties  
are interested in the Antarctic like the Russians drilling down to  
Lake Vostok.  Everybody - most especially including industry - will be  
interested in the sea floor grab now underway in the Arctic.  Is there  
some reason that natural pressure from GIS won't cure the KML  
coordinate shortcomings?

- Rob