Google Earth is a great satellite images viewer to have on your computer and it is FREE. It is easy to use once downloaded - but you will need some form of broadband speed internet connection and a computer with at least an 'average specification' for the 3D graphics. Here is a sample of what there is to look at:

Blackgang Chine from 349m above sea level. The Fantasy Park was extended a few years ago now to the right of this picture. The scale of the Erosion and Landslip in this area is shown in this picture. The maze can also clearly be seen in the larger picture - although every couple of years or so it gets a little closer to the edge! Not all of BG Chine is shown in this image.

{All pictures will enlarge when clicked on}

Osborne House taken from 2Km. The area around the house is fantastic and leads all the way down to the beach past The Swiss Cottage on the left in the picture.

A large part of the grounds has been taken over by the golf club on the right, and sadly visitors are not allowed everywhere in the grounds or onto the beach.

From 465m the detail is great of the main house and surrounding patio garden and terraces. Just out of picture is the Victorian walled garden and greenhouse.

If you give Google Earth a try it is possible to zoom in closer and pan around the whole area.

The whole of The Isle of Wight is in high resolution in Google Earth, some areas of the U.K. however are at a lower resolution than this.

Carrisbrooke Castle as seen from nearly 600m high. The high keep can be seen on top of its mound with the bowling green towards the lower middle of the picture.

Carrisbrooke village is on the right and is considerably lower than The Castle although it may not seem so looking at the picture.

It is possible to zoom in as low as 130m but the quality drops off a bit, the best details seems to be around a 300-400m height. Houses, extensions, gardens and footpaths even ploughing patterns in farmers fields can all be seen.

This can be very useful for planning a walk or getting correct directions. The images are around 2-3 years old though. You can also bookmark your favourite places and next time you load it up it is possible for the program to 'zoom' straight to your place. The Grand Canyon, The Eiffel Tower, The London Eye are also recommended to look at.

I personally have been using Google Earth now and again for well over a year now with no problems, spam emails or annoying pop up windows etc, give it a try it's cool and it's FREE.

Here is the link: http://earth.google.com/
 

Some more satellite images coming very shortly.......