Produced by: Tarun Mishra Designed by: Manoj Kumar
Google Earth is set to launch an update that will let users explore satellite and aerial images dating back as far as the 1930s, significantly expanding the platform’s current capabilities.
Currently, Google Earth allows users to view images from a few decades ago, but with tis new update, the time frame for most places will double, offering a glimpse into the past, up to 80 years ago.
Credit: Google
The update will initially include historical imagery for major cities like London, Berlin, Warsaw, Paris, and San Francisco, allowing users to explore how these locations looked in the 1930s.
Credit: Google
Users will be able to compare historical images side-by-side with modern views, making it easy to observe how geography and urban landscapes have evolved over the decades.
Google demonstrated the feature by comparing images of San Francisco from 1938 and 2024, highlighting how the city’s ports have transformed from shipping hubs to areas filled with restaurants and cruise ships.
Credit: Google
The new feature will be available on both mobile and web platforms, with the rollout expected in the coming weeks, giving users a new way to explore historical changes around the world.
Along with the time travel update, Google is also expanding its Street View feature on Google Maps, making it available in nearly 80 countries, enhancing the depth of visual exploration.
Google plans to improve the quality of images on both Google Earth and Google Maps using advanced AI models, ensuring clearer, sharper imagery for users as they explore historical and modern locations.