Wikisky - Online Starmap and Wiki

March 22, 2007 11:30 PM

It's like Google Maps...for space. Wikisky is a draggable, zoomable, web-based star map. And if you click on a star or other object, it brings up a page with all the information you could want on it, including recent articles and astrophotos that contain that object. And it does lots more. Go explore.
posted by Jimbob (25 comments total)

Very interesting site. Thanks.
posted by Cranberry at 12:06 AM on March 23, 2007

As an astronomy nerd, you just made my night.
posted by Roman Graves at 12:15 AM on March 23, 2007

Neat!
posted by mervin_shnegwood at 12:15 AM on March 23, 2007

Needs a little polish, but most excellent.
posted by moonbiter at 12:37 AM on March 23, 2007

Am I the only one who's having trouble with the mouse-drag? It keeps resetting the position.
posted by Steven C. Den Beste at 12:47 AM on March 23, 2007

Holy crap, the "Astro Photo" section is incredible...
HELLO
thats huge
posted by BlackLeotardFront at 12:51 AM on March 23, 2007

Ah, but can it give directions?
posted by TimeTravelSpeed at 12:52 AM on March 23, 2007

i use stellarium in the cockpit on night flights...
posted by dawdle at 12:58 AM on March 23, 2007

Oh, man. I really like this. Thanks!
posted by trip and a half at 1:00 AM on March 23, 2007

But does it run on a single piece of fairy cake?

This is pretty cool.
posted by Many bubbles at 1:50 AM on March 23, 2007

I have to admit; I'm still looking for the "Wiki" part... I assumed, based on the URL, that there was a Wiki involved. But I'm yet to find it...
posted by Jimbob at 2:04 AM on March 23, 2007

Hey that is so great. :)
posted by happybunny at 2:12 AM on March 23, 2007

Jimbob: I was thinking much the same thing. Seems like sky-map.org is a better URL.
posted by edd at 2:26 AM on March 23, 2007

I'm still looking for the "Wiki" part

It may or may not be based on some wiki software. But on the object articles, you have:
* Upload your image
* Submit a new article (headline & abstract)
* Submit a new link

And there is a "My Edits" tab when you create a profile. So, it's at least sort of a wiki. I don't think they want you creating new stars or dragging them to other places, though ...
posted by dhartung at 2:41 AM on March 23, 2007

thank you!
posted by wilful at 4:31 AM on March 23, 2007

You just helped me score points with the astrology nerd at home. Thx!
posted by IndpMed at 5:15 AM on March 23, 2007

... Astronomy
**hangs head in shame
posted by IndpMed at 5:16 AM on March 23, 2007

excellent, thanks.
posted by Busithoth at 6:03 AM on March 23, 2007

But does it run on a single piece of fairy cake?

This is pretty cool.
posted by Many bubbles at 4:50 AM on March 23

This goes to show you the power of brand marketing. If they named it totalperspectivevortex.org and added a "You are here" dot, they'd have 100 times as many diggs.
posted by Pastabagel at 8:48 AM on March 23, 2007 [1 favorite]

If they named it totalperspectivevortex.org and added a "You are here" dot, they'd have 100 times as many diggs.

I can't believe someone hasn't done that already...
posted by Jimbob at 8:53 AM on March 23, 2007

Cool for the wiki perpsective, but not as much fun as Celestia. All platforms, and you can add Star Wars and Star Trek planets. Friggin awesome.
posted by fungible at 9:39 AM on March 23, 2007

fungible-

I'm a regular lurker on the Celestia forums, and I love the program, but I can't help but think that the Google Earth, wiki sky approach is going to replace it in the end. In particular, planet textures are becoming to large to load all at once, and it makes more sense to keep those on a server (where they can be updated and corrected universally) and push down only the textures you are seeing at any one time.
posted by Pastabagel at 12:12 PM on March 23, 2007

... Astronomy
**hangs head in shame


I've been there, man. I feel your pain.

/90210
posted by Sparx at 12:48 PM on March 23, 2007

I had a star named after me through the International Star Registry. Can't find it. :(
posted by robot at 12:54 PM on March 23, 2007

This is pretty neat, thanks!
posted by grapefruitmoon at 8:42 PM on March 24, 2007