Help using Google Maps
The Full Screen control in the upper righthand corner of the Google Maps display expands the display to cover the entire computer screen. This full-screen feature is not available on Apple IOS devices like the iPad.
You can exit out of full screen by pressing the Escape key or clicking the control in the upper righthand corner of the display.
The Map/Satellite control in the upper lefthand corner of the screen lets you choose either the normal map view or the satellite view. The satellite view allows you to see the actual military facility when you zoom in. You can choose to turn Labels on or off. The labels are the names of places, businesses, cities, etc. that appear on the map. You can turn off the labels if they obstruct your view.
When you select the Map view, you can turn on terrain features by clicking or touching the Terrain box. This will show things like mountain ranges, similar to looking at a relief map.
You can zoom in and out in a few ways. The lower righthand corner of the Google Maps display has a plus sign and a minus sign that controls zooming. If you're using a mouse with a scroll wheel, the wheel controls zooming. If you're using an IOS device like an iPhone or iPad, double-tapping the display zooms in but tapping does not zoom out.
Most touch screen devices will zoom by pinching the display with two fingers.
Note: When you click on a marker, then click a link within the popup window, a new browser tab is used. This is so you don't lose your place on the map. Remember to close the tab when you're done.
Note: Google Maps cannot display markers near Earth's poles, so telescopes in Antarctica may not be shown but they are included in the counts below.
In the telescope key above:
Optical refers to telescopes that gather visible, infrared, or ultraviolet light.
Radio telescopes gather radio signals; antennas are usually parabolic dish antennas but other types are used. For example, the Chinese Primeval Structure Radio Telescope uses ten-thousand log-periodic antennas spread over several square kilometers.
Sun refers to telescopes that focus only on observations of the Sun regardless of whether they're gathering light or radio signals.
Gravity refers to the detection of cosmic gravitational waves.
Neutrino refers to detectors that measure neutrinos. They're not telescopes in the traditional sense but, like telescopes, can pinpoint the origins of neutrino particles in the universe. NOTE: We're considering calling this category "Particle" instead of Neutrino".
Mix refers to observatory locations that have two or more telescopes but we have not yet added their individual markers. That work is progressing.
The telescopes covered by this map include working telescopes that are engaged in exploration and research. Telescopes that are wholly used for education, public outreach, commercial purposes (Rent-a-telescope), or part of museums are not included here, unless they're needed to sort out the identities of telescopes clustered close together.