To answer these questions, I reached out to our satellite imagery techspert, Matt Manolides. But how does satellite imagery actually work? How often are images updated? What are some of the biggest challenges to bringing satellite imagery to more than 1 billion users? Capturing the world from above is a huge undertaking, matching millions of images to precise locations. Today, satellite imagery is one of the most popular features on Google Maps.

For most of human history, it was impossible to even imagine what Earth looked like from above, and only in the past century have we been able to capture it. It’s thrilling to watch cars move, see skyscrapers cast shadows on the street or check out the reflection of the sun in a body of water. (And I can’t wait to start flying again… or at least get out of my apartment.) Not because I’m annoyed by the beverage cart hitting my elbows (though I am), or because I like to blankly stare out at the endless sky (which I do), but because I enjoy looking down at the streets, buildings and skyline of my destination as we land. When flying, I am firmly a window seat person.

Satellite view apple maps