Google announced that Google Static Maps API now supports satellite and hybrid/ terrain images. As opposed to the JavaScript Maps API, this API delivers static GIF files to be used in non-JS contexts – all you need to do is create a URL with special parameters like the zoom level, the layer type, and the coordinates.

So check out the documentation and start using the new map types for your thumbnail maps, mobile maps, or any of the other reasons. You can also check out the other goodies in this release in the Static Maps API changelog.