Is it a bird? Is it a plane? It's Google!!

well, yes. It is a plane. A Google plane. Wave to the plane!

Why would a Google plane be flying low (600m) over Sydney on Australia Day? Hmm... here's a clue.

Yes, that's right. Google will be taking new photos for it's google maps service (http://maps.google.com.au) over Sydney CBD on January 26. These will be the highest resolution photos ever taken for Google Maps worldwide and Google is asking everyone to look out for the plane and do something distinctive to be recognisable later. The photos should be detailed enough to make out hair colour, clothing and jestures. Get out there and wave; hold up a sign; urinate on an electric fence! Anything to attract attention from the heavens!

The astute among you may have also noticed something strange about the website above. That's right. It's a '.au' domain. Google has set up Google Maps Australia with a local .au server.