I use aerial photos for my work every day. Most Google Earth photos are about 2 years old. Some counties will pay for aerial surveys (for taxation, construction and other purposes) on a more regular basis. For Indianapolis, you can access aerials on-line, dating back to the 30's, each precisely mapped and over-layable. It's cool to see the farmlands before the reservoir existed where I sail.

Here's a link (if it works) to Windows Live Local Maps, which is even more detailed than Google Earth, and their "Bird's Eye View" which lets you look at your house from all sides, at an angle. It shows my boat last spring, still with the winter cover on it. Most aerials are taken when there are no leaves on the trees.

http://maps.live.com/default.aspx?v...phscl=1&scene=31900928&encType=1

But if you look from the other angles, my boat doesn't exist, and the club piers change configurations.