What is Google Earth?
{{Use American English|date=October 2023}} {{Use mdy dates|date=November 2022}} {{Infobox software | name = Google Earth | logo = Google Earth icon.svg | screenshot = | caption = | collapsible = | ver layout = stacked | author = Keyhole, Inc. | developer = [[Google]] | released = {{Start date and age|2001|6|10}} | programming language = [[C++]] | operating system = {{indented plainlist| * [[Android (operating system)|Android]] [[Android Lollipop|Lollipop]] or later * [[iOS]] [[iOS 14|14]] or later * [[Linux]] ([[Ubuntu]] 14/[[Fedora Linux|Fedora]] 23-equivalent or later) * [[OS X Mountain Lion|macOS 10.8]] or later * [[Web application|Web App]] * [[Windows 7]] or later<ref name=SystemRequirements>{{cite web |url=https://support.google.com/earth/answer/21955 |title=Install & uninstall Google Earth Pro |website=Google Earth Help |access-date=January 11, 2023 |archive-date=January 11, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230111203743/https://support.google.com/earth/answer/21955 |url-status=live }}</ref> }} | language count = Various | genre = [[Virtual globe]] | license = [[Freeware]] | website = {{URL|https://earth.google.com/}} }} '''Google Earth''' is a virtual globe [[Computer program|program]] that was first called Earth Viewer. Keyhole, Inc. created it in 2001. It has been owned by Google since 2004.<ref>{{cite news|date=October 27, 2004|title=Google Acquires Keyhole|newspaper=Wall Street Journal|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB109888284313557107|url-status=live|access-date=December 3, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171204171107/https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB109888284313557107|archive-date=December 4, 2017}}</ref> The program maps the surface of [[Earth]] by combining pictures taken by [[satellites]] and [[airplanes]]. There are also [[3D]] maps where users can look at areas from different angles. It is quite similar to [[Google Maps]]. Google Earth is [[interactive]] and lets the user move the globe, and look at satellite imagery with overlays of roads, buildings, geographi