Lior Ron, Product Manager for Google Earth announced today on the Google LatLong blog the new release today of the Sky in Google Earth. In a break from programming I gave it a try. At first glance it works well.
"Today, I'm excited to announce we are launching Sky in Google Earth. You can now explore the universe from the comfort of your chair. Zoom in to distant galaxies hundreds of millions of light years away, explore the constellations, see the planets in motion, witness a supernova explosion; it's like having a giant, virtual telescope at your command -- your own personal planetarium!"