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[[Image:Helms.window.jpg|thumb|right|Astronaut, Susan Helms, looking out the window on the International Space Station]]
'''Windows on Earth''' is a museum exhibit, [[website]], and exploration tool, developed by TERC, Inc. (an educational non-profit organization, previously called Technical Education Research Centers<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.terc.edu/display/HOME/FAQs#FAQs-Whatdoes%22TERC%22standfor?|title=FAQs - TERC Home|website=www.terc.edu|access-date=2018-11-19}}</ref>), and the [[Association of Space Explorers]], that enables the public to explore an interactive, virtual view of Earth from space.<ref name="terc1">{{Cite web|url=http://winearth.terc.edu/|title=Explore Earth from Space|accessdate=October 12, 2008|publisher=Technical Education Research Centers|date=2008|author=TERC|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20081205060159/http://winearth.terc.edu/|archivedate=December 5, 2008}}</ref> In addition, the tool has been selected by NASA to help astronauts identify targets for photography from the [[International Space Station]] (ISS).<ref name="Windows on Earth Website">{{cite web|title=Windows on Earth Website|url=http://winearth.terc.edu/|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20081205060159/http://winearth.terc.edu/|archivedate=2008-12-05}}</ref><ref name="CASIS Press Release">{{cite web|title=CASIS Press Release|url=http://www.iss-casis.org/NewsEvents/PressReleases/tabid/111/ArticleID/25/ArtMID/586/CASIS-Partners-with-TERC--Association-of-Space-Explorers.aspx|access-date=2012-08-01|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120808231752/http://www.iss-casis.org/NewsEvents/PressReleases/tabid/111/ArticleID/25/ArtMID/586/CASIS-Partners-with-TERC--Association-of-Space-Explorers.aspx|archive-date=2012-08-08|url-status=dead}}</ref>

The program simulates the view of Earth as seen from a window aboard the ISS, in high-resolution, photographically accurate colors and 3D animations. The views include cloud cover, day and night cycles, night time lights, and other features that help make the exhibit realistic and interactive.<ref name="terc5">{{Cite web|url=http://winearth.terc.edu/how_works/ |title=How Windows on Earth Works |accessdate=October 12, 2008 |publisher=TERC |date=2008 |author=TERC |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20081003013414/http://winearth.terc.edu/how_works/ |archivedate=October 3, 2008 }}</ref>

== Earth Visualization Software ==
[[Image:WinEarth screen Peru coast.png|thumb|Screen capture from Windows on Earth showing the coast of Peru with three marked targets, orbital track, and the 10-minute look-ahead.]]

Windows on Earth provides the user a view of Earth from an astronaut's viewpoint, with interactive photorealistic views of Earth as if seen from an altitude of 360 km.<ref name="terc5"/> The program uses [http://www.geofusion.com GeoFusion's] digital Earth visualization system, which renders accurate views of Earth with terrain, satellite imagery, clouds, and other layers. The system is programmed for user interaction, allowing users to "fly" anywhere they wish to see, and zoom in or out to see details. The system's imagery is derived from [[Landsat program|Landsat]], and features 3D perspective views. Former astronaut [[Jay Apt]] assisted with the color-correction of the images, to help get the most realistic colors as seen from space.<ref name="terc5"/> The program is updated daily to include accurate cloud cover information.<ref name="terc5"/>

== Development and Outreach Partners ==
Windows on Earth was created by people from the Center for Earth and Space Science Education (CESSE) at TERC, a not-for profit math and science education company located in Cambridge, MA, in partnership with the [[Association of Space Explorers]], [http://www.geofusion.com GeoFusion's], and [http://worldsat.ca/ WorldSat International] and with funding from the [[National Science Foundation]], Informal Science Education.<ref name="terc3">{{Cite web|url=http://www.terc.edu/work/860.html|title=Windows on Earth|accessdate=October 12, 2008|publisher=TERC|date=2008|author=TERC|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080917172107/http://www.terc.edu/work/860.html|archive-date=2008-09-17|url-status=dead}}</ref>

Additional partners include the [[Challenger Learning Center]] and [[NASA]]'s [[Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center|Johnson Space Center]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.spaceref.com/news/viewpr.html?pid=26617|title=Challenger Center Partners with TERC's Windows on Earth Program| work = SpaceRef.com|author=Rita Karl|accessdate = 2008-10-03}}</ref>

== Museums ==
[[Image:WinEarth capture Nile River delta.png|thumb|On the [[International Space Station]], Richard Garriott used the Windows on Earth software to identify targets for Earth photography.]]
The Windows on Earth museum exhibit can be found in the [[Smithsonian]] [[National Air and Space Museum]], Boston's [[Museum of Science, Boston|Museum of Science]], the [[Montshire Museum of Science]] in Vermont, the [[St. Louis Science Center]], and the [[Connecticut Science Center]].<ref name="smiths">{{Cite web|url=http://www.nasm.si.edu/research/ceps/outreach.cfm|title=Center for Earth and Planetary Studies|accessdate=October 12, 2008|publisher=Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum|date=2008|author=National Air and Space Museum|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080907132744/http://www.nasm.si.edu/research/ceps/outreach.cfm|archive-date=2008-09-07|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name="sr">{{Cite web|url=http://www.spaceref.com/news/viewpr.html?pid=26585|title=Students and Astronauts use Powerful New Tool to Explore Earth From Space|accessdate=October 12, 2008|publisher=Spaceref.com|date=2008|author=TERC}}</ref><ref name="terc4">{{Cite web|url=http://winearth.terc.edu/visit_museum/ |title=Visit Our Museum Exhibits |accessdate=October 12, 2008 |publisher=TERC |date=2008 |author=TERC |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20081211095209/http://winearth.terc.edu/visit_museum/ |archivedate=December 11, 2008 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Windows on Earth Website|url=http://winearth.terc.edu/museum.html|access-date=2012-08-01|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120715043643/http://winearth.terc.edu/museum.html|archive-date=2012-07-15|url-status=dead}}</ref>

== Garriott Mission ==
Windows on Earth flew on board the [[International Space Station]] (ISS). On October 12, 2008, [[Richard Garriott]] launched aboard [[Soyuz TMA-13]] to the ISS as a [[Spaceflight participant]].<ref name="Chron">{{Cite web|url=http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/front/6052360.html|title=$30 million buys Austin resident a ride on Soyuz mission|accessdate=October 12, 2008|publisher=[[The Houston Chronicle]]|date=2008|author=Mark Carreau}}</ref><ref name="garriottinspace">{{cite news| url = http://www.space.com/news/070928_garriott_spacetourist.html | title = Former Astronaut's Son Signs on as Next Space Tourist|author=Tariq Malik|publisher= SPACE.com | accessdate = 2007-10-09}}</ref> Garriott remained on board the station for 10 days, conducting educational and scientific programs and experiments. Earth observation was one of his prime tasks on this mission, and he used the Windows on Earth system to help him take pictures of specific targets.<ref name="terc2">{{Cite web|url=http://winearth.terc.edu/garriott_mission/ |title=Richard Garriott's Mission in October, 2008 |accessdate=October 12, 2008 |publisher=TERC |date=2008 |author=TERC |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20081003021017/http://winearth.terc.edu/garriott_mission/ |archivedate=October 3, 2008 }}</ref>

After the mission, Richard's photographs, along with ones taken by his astronaut father [[Owen Garriott]], who flew on [[Skylab 3]] (1973) and [[STS-9]] (1983), were made available to the public through Windows on Earth. This provides a unique opportunity for comparing areas of Earth photographed by two generations of space explorers, showing how Earth's surface (and the technology of Earth observation) has changed over 35 years, from 1973 to 2008.<ref name="terc2"/>

== Tool for the ISS ==
In May 2012, [[NASA]] selected Windows on Earth as the new tool to help astronauts identify targets for photography from the ISS.<ref name="Windows on Earth Website"/><ref name="CASIS Press Release"/>

== See also ==
* [[Google Earth]]
* [[NASA World Wind]]

== References ==
{{Reflist|30em}}

== External links ==
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20081205060159/http://winearth.terc.edu/ Windows on Earth]
* [http://www.geofusion.com GeoFusion, Inc.] - Digital Earth visualization system
* [http://worldsat.ca/ WorldSat International, Inc.] - Satellite imagery

[[Category:Satellite imagery]]
[[Category:American science websites]]
[[Category:Spaceflight]]

Windows on Earth - Revision history

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