In 2004 an Australia-based digital mapping start-up was acquired by Google which, long story cut short, resulted in Google Maps.  Google Maps changed the world just by showing us the world.  It broke down borders, allowed people to investigate almost any place on earth from the comfort of their own armchair.  It forced governments to change legislation, drove the revolution of satellite navigation, and led to the evolution of Uber and self-drive cars.

Recent news puts Australia again at the forefront of mapping – this time on a larger scale. Much larger!

Award-winning radio astronomer, Dr Natasha Hurley-Walker, had previously produced the most detailed radio-wave map of ½ the sky (universe) which has inspired researchers and generated a plethora of research projects all over the world.

Now the team at CSIRO’s ASKAP (Australian Square Kilometer Array Pathfinder) have mapped the southern sky at record resolution in record time.

CSIRO astronomers have mapped three million galaxies (including about one million previously unknown) in just a couple of weeks.  It is expected that this will similarly drive exploration and innovation and expand our understanding of the universe in which we live.

Who knows, perhaps one day, it will be used by humans to navigate the universe. UberSpace anyone?