Using the Internet to search the world over has taken on new meaning with the release of Google Earth earlier this year.

Launched by Google in June, the free mapping program is meant to compete with other mapping applications like Yahoo’s Mapquest. While upgraded and commercial versions are available, the free version features several abilities to woo users, including a “fly to” feature that literally flies the viewer to a selected destination from outer space or from place to place around the globe.

Google uses satellite and aerial photographs to present much of the world in spectacular detail, although different areas of the earth are covered in varied levels of detail. For example, in Los Angeles, it allows viewers to almost make out cracks in the pavement, while the Philippines islands only show basic geography.

North America and major international cities are shown with pictures less than three years old.

Another of the attractions that Earth offers is the “Local Search” tool that uses Google’s search engine to locate businesses, hotels or other points within the locale shown on the screen. From here, users can choose to get directions from any address in the hemisphere to the point they searched for. The directions include a map with mileage, turning points and estimated time of travel.

“I was able to actually zoom in on the apartment building I lived in,” said Jason Butikofer, a sophomore from Idaho Falls, who served a full-time mission in the Czech Prague Mission. Returned missionaries seem to enjoy using the program to temporarily and easily re-visit the places they served. “I was even able to follow the bus route that went to our church,” Butikofer said.

Many geographic sites like Mount Everest and the Grand Canyon can be experienced in 3-D. Using the “Layers” feature, a user can choose to see information posted by travelers and amateurs, along with professionals like National Geographic who make contributions by posting Information Points that tell more about a specific area or place.

Not everyone is in love with the program though. Several countries, including South Korea and Pakistan have expressed concern about high-resolution imagery of military bases available to the public. Supporters of Earth argue that these countries’ enemies already have the imagery offered by Earth from their own satellites and likely in greater detail, since Earth gets much of its information from other sources.

Whether for recreation, international politics or geography homework, Earth seems to be having an effect similar, albeit miniaturized, to when the Internet itself first became public; it’s expanding knowledge of the world and bringing people a bit closer.