Google Earth is about to launch a map of the moon

Google sent out invitations to the media on Thursday, saying that the company will hold a media event in Washington, D.C., on the 20th of this month to announce "a very special new feature of GoogleEarth."

According to media reports, Google will announce the lunar mapping feature of GoogleEarth at this event. July 20, 2009 marks the 40th anniversary of the Apollo 11 landing on the moon. Apollo 11 astronaut BuzzAldrin will reportedly speak at the launch event, along with Andrew Chaikin, author of AMan on the Moon.

Google and NASA have been working together for years, and GoogleEarth's lunar mapping feature will reportedly use the latest high-resolution images of the moon taken by NASA's lunar probe, which launched in June. Prior to this, Google already had a "GoogleMoon" project website, which provided some photos of the moon and signs of Apollo landing sites. However, it is believed that GoogleEarth's new lunar map will greatly expand this capability.