NASA World Wind : Earth Mapping Software & Satellite Imagery

So you like Google earth and enjoy the virtual tourism and sightseeing it provides. Check out NASA World Wind earth mapping software that lets you zoom from satellite altitude into any place on Earth.

Earth terrain is seen in rich 3D effect using Landsat satellite imagery and Shuttle Radar Topography Mission data. World Wind has a full copy of the Blue Marble, a spectacular true-color image of the entire Earth as seen on NASA’s Earth Observatory: the Blue Marble. See all features. NASA has released World Wind as an open source program to improve its quality and increase dissemination. You may use it under the terms of the NASA Open Source Agreement.

World Wind requires .NET runtime environment and DirectX installed and video card with 3D acceleration. Full install is 45Mb, downloading is difficult without a good broadband internet connection, so I am looking for a technology magazine with DVD which will provide it. More useful information and FAQ is provided at the WorldWind Central Wiki.