This is an exciting project that will become available later this spring. The World Wide Telescope. Using Microsoft’s Visual Experience Engine “the WorldWide Telescope (WWT) is a rich visualization environment that functions as a virtual telescope, bringing together imagery from the best ground and space telescopes in the world for a seamless, guided exploration of the universe.”
For a wonderful demonstration and some further explanation take a look at Dr. Roy Gould’s talk at this year’s TED talk.