AFTER Google Earth, the internet behemoth is reaching for the stars with a mobile phone application that identifies distant planets and galaxies.

Amateur astronomers will be able to tell the difference between Mercury and Mars by simply pointing their camera-phones at the night sky and clicking a button.

The Google software, called Star Droid, uses GPS technology found in most new handsets to identify the position of the user and then compares this with existing maps of space. It automatically attaches name tags to the stars and planets that can be seen through the phone’s viewfinder.

The application, which could be launched as early as this week, is also likely to identify the object’s distance from Earth and its position within a constellation.

Experts believe the growth of street lighting and pollution over the past century have left urban dwellers struggling to identify even the best-known constellations, such as the Plough or Orion.

Astronomers hope Google’s technology, which will be free to download from the internet, will help to inspire and educate a new generation of stargazers.

The company’s critics, however, will no doubt see Google’s move into space as further evidence of its omnipresence. Some have already half-jokingly referred to its latest product as Google Universe.

Carolin Crawford, of Cambridge University’s institute of astronomy, which runs open evenings for the public, said: “We find many members of the public have a real enthusiasm about stars and planets, but I’m afraid this is often not matched by much knowledge.

“This innovation sounds like it could be really useful to help people learn what they are looking at. It will be interesting to see how much the camera on the phones will be able to pick up. The night sky is pretty crowded. Whereas Venus can appear bright in the sky, many stars appear very dimly and may be difficult for a camera-phone to spot.”

Schoolchildren learn about the solar system under the national curriculum, but few are taught how to find specific planets or stars.

Although Scouts are still trained to navigate by the stars, schools are often reluctant to take pupils out to learn similar skills because of health and safety concerns.

“It can be a palaver with schools as they often want to do a safety inspection before such a trip,” said Graham Bryant, chairman of the Hampshire Astronomical Group.

“If children are studying geology they are often happy to go out and examine rocks, but not many children seem to be able to navigate their way round the night sky.”

Google has been lauded for its innovation, and its Google Earth application, which mapped the world, even led to conservationists discovering a new forest in Mozambique.

The company has faced criticism on several fronts in recent months, however. Its Street View product, which provides a 360-degree view of tens of thousands of roads in Britain’s biggest cities, sparked privacy concerns and has been criticised as a tool for burglars.

Last month The Sunday Times revealed how Google had legally avoided paying £110m of tax in Britain in a single year.

By using a complex international structure, the American company paid just £600,000 in UK corporation tax in 2007 despite generating revenues of £1.25 billion in this country.

Politicians condemned the practice as “unfair”. Lord Carter, the communications minister, is considering introducing a new tax on internet companies.

Later this month Google will hold its annual Zeitgeist conference, where guest speakers will include the Prince of Wales, who will discuss climate change and the destruction of the rainforests.

Google declined to comment on Star Droid.

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