How to Find Your Home on a Satellite Map

Satellite imagery enables you to virtually explore the Earth.
... Creatas/Creatas/Getty Images

If you ever wanted to find out what satellites might see when they pass over your home, you can use Internet mapping services such as Google, Bing and Yahoo. These companies compiled satellite imagery from around the globe and stitched it together to provide a bird's-eye view of almost every home in the nation. The images aren't live, however, so you can't walk out in the yard and wave to yourself.

Navigate to Google Maps, Bing Maps or Yahoo Maps (links in Resources).

Type your street address, including your city and state, into the field at the top of the screen. The website shows a street map of your neighborhood, along with a marker pinpointing your home.

Switch from street map view to satellite view. In Google Maps, click the square in the corner labeled "Earth." In Bing Maps, click "Aerial" on the toolbar. In Yahoo Maps, click the "Satellite" button.

Double-click the marker on the map to zoom in on your house. You may need to click the "+" icon to zoom in as close as possible. Depending on which website you use, and where you live, you may be able to zoom in as close as 800 feet above the ground.

Use the tilting function available in Google Maps and Bing Maps to get a better angle of your home, so that you can see more than just the rooftop. In Google Maps, you clidk the square button above the "+" button. In Bing Maps, click "Aerial" on the toolbar and change the setting to Bird's Eye.

  • Explore your local area or even the entire globe while in satellite view by zooming back out and moving the focus of the map with your mouse. You can zoom in at any time to explore geographical features of your area, or even to peek into your neighbor's backyard.

Alan Sembera began writing for local newspapers in Texas and Louisiana. His professional career includes stints as a computer tech, information editor and income tax preparer. Sembera now writes full time about business and technology. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in journalism from Texas A&M University.

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