If you have ever wanted to take a photo from space, we have just the thing for you. Recently, Canon unveiled a new interactive site that lets you utilize its CE-SAT-1 satellite, which is equipped with a lightly modified 5D Mark III DSLR.
Orbiting at 375 miles above the Earth, the camera provides a 36-inch ground resolution within a 3×2 mile frame, and allows you to take images from multiple locations around the world. With each shot you take, the site tells you the exact location and altitude of the image.
If this sounds too cool to be true, that’s because it kinda is. The interactive demo uses pre-captured imagery, so you’re not actually grabbing live or unique photos. Engadget reports that if it were live, the CE-SAT-1 would be zipping around the Earth at nearly 17,000 miles per hour, circling the globe in just over an hour and a half.
Still, the demo does make you feel as if you were in control of the satellite and gives you an impression of the satellite’s capabilities and resolution. Another awesome aspect of the experience is that it’s narrated by astronaut Marsha Ivins, who tells you about the satellite’s purpose and design. The design in itself is very interesting, as the satellite is only about the size of a wine barrel and is much cheaper than regular satellites.
Want to check out the interactive site and take photos from space? Have a look right here.