Virtual globe
Beyond just running your fingers over an atlas, today we access and use virtual globes that are connected to image servers with satellite and aerial pictures. The virtual globe fad draws upon the black, corporatised world envisaged by Neal Stephenson in his 1992 book Snow Crash.
I was wondering about how to network Google Earth after hearing about the traps that somebody had done it. A search of the web didn't help but I did manage to find a wikipedia page about the free Virtual Globe software that is available for users to download and use. Somebody had already shown me Microsoft MapPoint but I wasn't aware that NASA have a similar product called World Wind. Looks easier to network on a school LAN too and doesn't have the 512 Mb limit imposed by Google.
I already cover some remote sensing lessons in my Research Science class with the MultiSpec software to process Lansat TM images and the GLOBE project. It is a fascinating area that I look forward to exploring further.