Microsoft announced today that its really cool WorldWide Telescope was now in an open public beta. The application is from Microsoft Research and allows students and fans of Space view seamless images of the night sky composed from land and space-based telescopes.

"The WorldWide Telescope is a powerful tool for science and education that makes it possible for everyone to explore the universe," said Bill Gates, chairman of Microsoft. "By combining terabytes of incredible imagery and data with easy-to-use software for viewing and moving through all that information, the WorldWide Telescope opens the door to new ways to see and experience the wonders of space. Our hope is that it will inspire young people to explore astronomy and science, and help researchers in their quest to better understand the universe."

The application is described as a blend of software and web 2.0 services created with the Microsoft Visual Experience Engine. Users get seamless panning and zooming of the heavens similar to Google Earth. Guided tours by astronomers and educators from major universities and planetariums.