Listers, As a sidebar to the usage of the aerial photographs at Terraserver, unless you are very familiar with the area and even if you are, you can get lost very easily on these maps. The topographic maps that are also referenced share the same coordinates and zoom levels although the Aerial can go one step closer than the topographic maps. I find it extremely helpful to have two browser sessions open at the same time. Find the area you want to explore on the topographic map without zooming or panning. You can make the map larger at that point if you wish. Once you find the area you want, right click on the aerial map link and open it in another window. When you navigate on the topographic map, mimic your same moves on the aerial map. You should be able to switch between the two sessions and see exactly where you are. If you use a full screen browser session, all the roads and features should line up exactly making it much easier to use and pinpoint locations. Another "secret tip" with using these maps is in the actual URL itself. There is only one difference between a topographic map and an aerial one. the "T=" is the type of map, 2=topographic and 1=aerial. if you find a place on one map and want to see the exact same spot on the other, just copy the url, paste it in a new browser session and then change that one byte to the other type of map. Very easy for people who are use to cut and paste. This is a topographic map location for Barnesville. Try opening it in one window. http://terraserver.microsoft.com/image.asp?T=2&S=14&X=151&Y=1382&Z=17&W=2 This is an aerial map location for Barnesville. Try opening it in another window. http://terraserver.microsoft.com/image.asp?T=1&S=14&X=151&Y=1382&Z=17&W=2 You'll see the difference is just the "1" and "2" in the URL. Keeping this in mind it is very easy to jump from one type of map to the other and keep the same location and perspective. There is also another Topographic map service which some may find easier to use but they offer no aerial maps. It is called TopoZone and can be found at: http://www.topozone.com/find.asp . it works a little like the USGS map queries where you have to specify what type of feature your looking for (or any will get you just the map) but the result is the same map source as Terraserver's Topographic maps which also are based on the USGS maps. Hope this helps make these easier to use. They are great sources for finding cemeteries, churches, land features, etc. Denny Shirer - drdx@neo.rr.com Shirer Family Genealogy Project http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~mysong Salem Township, Muskingum County, Ohio http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~mysong/salem > Subject: [OHBELMON-L] aerial photos online > Date: Mon, 5 Feb 2001 13:49:32 -0700 > From: "magwrite" <magwrite@lamar.colostate.edu> > To: OHBELMON-L@rootsweb.com > > The free Microsoft site: http://terraserver.microsoft.com/default.asp is a > very useful place to view aerial photos (and maps) for much of the country. > You can easily find small towns by name, and cemeteries and individual farms > if you have directions or know locations. > > _