How old are those google satellite pics?

[NewJeffCT]

My wife & I are looking for a new home, but we're taking our time. We saw one in the one of the towns we're looking at, so I decided to check the satellite picture via google for the house to see if it's a residential neighborhood / subdivision type of setting, or if it is not.

Eventually, I got around to looking up our current home, and there was nothing there, not even a hole in the ground. I could zoom right in on our next-door neighbor's house, but ours was an open space. The rest of our street was empty, too.

Our house is fairly new, having been finished about 2 1/2 years ago. I think they started construction of our home just about 3 years ago, and some of the homes up the street from us were finished more than 2 1/2 years ago.

So, that leads me to believe that those cool satellite pics are often pretty old.

[Arkansas Granny]

1. I'm pretty sure that I read somewhere that they have been taken

within the last three years. I think it was on Google Earth FAQ.

[AllegroRondo]

2. It depends on the area

Some of the areas around where I live, the pictures are 6 years old. Some are less than a year old. I guess it just depends on how recent a picture they can get.

[BarenakedLady]

3. My area just got updated

A short time ago, it was just a mass of green. When I checked the other day, you could see my house. It was still at least a year old though, because of the construction on my neighbors house.

[billyskank]

4. Judging by the road construction near my house

the photos of my area are between four and five years old.

[madinmaryland]

5. Try mapquest satellite.

Just type in your address, and then select the aerial view. It seems to be new views than what is on google (at least for the areas I have checked on.

[trof]

6. They're at least pre Hurricane Ivan. 9/16/04

You can't see much of my house because of the trees.
Many of those trees are gone now.

[hunter]

7. They are a mix of newer and older views stitched together like a quilt.

In the old view of our house the trees my wife and I planted were hardly visible, but it was recently updated and the trees are big.

My old truck is visible in both views, which sort of amuses me.

[ironflange]

8. You could try Microsoft's new thing, or Yahoo maps

http://local.live.com/

If it's a large US city you're looking at, do the 3D business. It's very very cool.

Here's my house!



That's a large deck in the back, with one of those tent gazebo type things on it. You can even see the landscaping. It helps to squint.

[billyskank]

9. Blech

"To use this feature, open Live Search in Windows Internet Explorer version 6 or 7. For more information, and to download the latest version, visit the Microsoft Internet Explorer website"

Fucking Microsoft incompatibility bullshit. Down with Microsoft! :grr:

[ironflange]

10. Sorry

I didn't remember what had to go on first. I have it working fine in Firefox. :shrug:

[billyskank]

11. I'm guessing Firefox on Linux will never work

Microsoft have something against Linux users, I can't imagine why...

[NV Whino]

12. Based on the photo of my house

and the cars parked there, I think the photos are bout 3 years old. It probably varies from area to area.