Google Sky (Earth)

Google has turned it’s focus from the popular Google Earth program to…the sky. Perfect for those nights when walking all the way outside seems like too much of a challenge :).
Much like Google earth provided an important tool for educators, Google Sky will be welcomed by many teachers. Simple tools like this are important for extending the scientific knowledge of a society. The ability to overlay Hubble images and gain additional information on certain formations or the use of the planet layer to observe planetary orbits are very useful. Why aren’t educators coming up with tools of this nature with potential for broad public use? Sure, I know the argument - schools and universities don’t have the money required. But that’s not true. The real problem is a vision for making education and learning tools broadly (and simply) available for anyone. We can spend huge amounts of public funds building learning management or repository systems…which then end up barely used. Why not create something people actually use? Something that arouses instills the wonder of learning in the broader population?