Microsoft WorldWide Telescope

Microsoft does not produce office applications. They have managed to make a very nice astronomy software as well. They have collected images from different telescopes and compile it into a planetarium. In addition to maneuver around the sky, you can also zoom in and explore the galaxies and nebulae. On some items, you can get narration that tells about the item.

Orion as seen from WorldWide Telescope (web client) 

According to Microsoft, the mission of the WWT is twofold:

• To aggregate scientific data from major telescopes, observatories, and institutions and make temporal and multi-spectral studies available through a single, cohesive Internet–based portal
• To stimulate interest in science among younger generations, providing a compelling base for teaching astronomy, scientific discovery, and computational science

FAQ

Some features are not included in the Web Client. More info on this page

Microsoft WorldWide Telescope

Requirements for the Windows client

• Microsoft XP SP2 (minimum), Windows Vista, or Windows® 7 
• Microsoft® XP SP2 (minimum), Windows® Vista®, or Windows® 7 (recommended)
• PC with Intel Core 2 Duo processor with 2 gigahertz (GHz) or faster, recommended
• 1 gigabyte (GB) of RAM; 2 GB RAM recommended
• 3D accelerated card with 128 megabytes (MB) RAM; discrete graphics card with dedicated 256-MB VRAM recommended for higher performance
• 1 GB of available hard disk space; 10 GB recommended for off-line features and higher performance browsing
• XGA (1024 x 768) or higher resolution monitor
• Microsoft Mouse or compatible pointing and scrolling device
• Microsoft® DirectX® version 9.0c and .NET Framework 2.0
• Required for some features; Internet connection at 56 Kbps or higher through either an Internet service provider (ISP) or a network. Internet access might require a separate fee to an ISP; local or long-distance telephone charges might also apply

Requirements for the Web Client

• Windows or Mac