Navigate in Google Earth

Description:

Three steps describe how to move around, zoom in and out, and change tilt and direction in Google Earth. Two helpful keyboard commands are introduced.

Step 1.

Move around.
Moving around in Google Earth can be done a couple of different ways.

 

• a) The most common way to move is by using the hand along with the mouse.

Practice: Click on the globe and rotate Earth so Alaska is visible.

 

 

 

b) Another way is to use the navigation control in the upper right side of the screen.
    If the navigation is not visible, check to make sure it is turned on by going to View
    --> Show Navigation --> Automatically (or Always).
    

Step 2.

Zoom in and out.

The zoom slider is located in the navigation control in the upper right side of the screen. Move the zoom slider towards the + sign to zoom in. To zoom back out move the   slider towards the – sign.

As you zoom into Alaska notice the different tiles that make up the mosaic of the state. The mosaic of images in a section could be made up of images taken in different years.

Practice: Zoom into different areas and observe the differences in the quality or detail in the images.

 

 

 

Step 3.

Change the tilt and direction.
Zoom into an area and click and hold the Look joystick on the top arrow. The surface of Earth will tilt, giving a bird’s eye view.

Move the compass around in a complete circle and fly around the area. Moving the Look joystick will also change the view.

Practice: Try following the Trans Alaska Pipeline from Prudhoe Bay on Alaska’s North Slope to Valdez, on Alaska’s southern coast, near the Gulf of Alaska.

 

Helpful keyboard shortcuts: The “N” key will turn Earth so north is up. The “R” key will right the image; it will be north up without any tilt.