Hasta La Ideas

Google have created an interactive 3D star map that beautifully visualises the location of 100,000 stars in our galaxy.

In another Chrome experiment, Google have taken star data from various sources including the European Space Agency, the Department of Astronomy at Yale, and Astronomy Nexus to create an interactive visualisation of the stars of our galaxy. The map shows 100,000 stars in total, with detailed information on 87 different identified stars, such as Aldebaran and Gamma Leonis, shown below.

The 3D map includes the option to pan, zoom and scroll through the different stars, as well as an automated tour that guides you through the galaxy, with some important space faces along the way. The map is mind-bogglingly detailed, using real life star renderings and images of the sun courtesy of NASA.

Google, however, emphasise that accuracy is not guaranteed, and warn that their map shouldn’t be used for “interstellar navigation”.

Google recently released another Google Experiment in the form of Jam with Chrome, which allows friends to play music together online using an array of instruments including various guitars, drums, and even a techno drum machine.

CR for the iPad

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CR In print

In our November issue we look at ad agency Wieden + Kennedy in a major feature as it celebrates its 30th anniversary; examine the practice of and a new monograph on M/M (Paris); investigate GOV.UK, the first major project from the Government Digital Service; explore why Kraftwerk appeals so much to designers; and ponder the future of Instagram. Rick Poynor reviews the Phaidon Archive of Graphic Design; Jeremy Leslie takes in a new exhibition at the Whitechapel Gallery dedicated to experimental magazine, Aspen; Mark Sinclair explores Birmingham’s Ikon Gallery show of work by the late graphic designer, Tony Arefin; while Daniel Benneworth-Gray writes about going freelance; and Michael Evamy looks at new telecommunications brand EE’s identity. Plus, subscribers also receive Monograph in which Tim Sumner of tohave-and-tohold.co.uk dips into Preston Polytechnic’s ephemera archive to pick out a selection of printed paper retail bags from the 70s and 80s.

The issue also doubles up as the Photography Annual 2012 – our showcase of the best images in commercial photography produced over the last year. The work selected is as strong as ever, with photographs by the likes of Tim Flach (whose image of a hairless chimp adorns the front cover of the issue, above); Nadav Kander (whose shot of actor Mark Rylance is our Photography Annual cover); Martin Usborne; Peter Lippmann; Giles Revell and more.

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