Energy News  
Mars, Then and Now: Google Mars Update

Mars' Valles Marineris. Credit: NASA/Google Earth.
by Staff Writers
Washington DC (SPX) Mar 14, 2009
Today, NASA and Google announce an update to Mars in Google Earth, a 3D mapping tool for the Red Planet. Originally released with Google Earth 5.0, Mars in Google Earth now contains even more features that give users a sense of how our knowledge of Mars, and our study of astronomy, has evolved over time.

After selecting 'Mars' from the toolbar in Google Earth, users fly to a 3D view of the Red Planet, complete with informational layers, imagery, and terrain.

The tools for navigation and exploration on Mars are identical to those on Earth - zoom in and out, change the camera view, or spin the entire planet with a click of the mouse.

There are three new features in this updated version of Mars in Google Earth. First, users can travel back in time to see the Red Planet through the eyes of the pioneers of Mars science in the 'Historical Maps' layer by exploring antique maps by astronomers Giovanni Schiaparelli, Percival Lowell, and others .

Then, they can fast-forward to the present day with the new 'Live from Mars' layer, featuring a continuous stream of the latest imagery from today's Mars spacecraft. 'Live from Mars' includes imagery from NASA's THEMIS camera on board the Mars Odyssey spacecraft, and lets users fly along with Odyssey as well as the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter to see what they have been observing lately and where they are headed next.

Users can discover these, and other exciting featuresa euros "and learn all about the history of Mars science and explorationa euros "with two new guided tours of Mars narrated by Ira Flatow of Public Radio's Science Friday and Bill Nye the Science Guy.

Mars in Google Earth also contains several updated elements, in addition to the many popular features that were available at the original launch. We've included updated imagery from NASA and ESA, and improved the search function to make it easier to explore well-known sites on Mars.

Just as they could in the original version of Mars in Google Earth, users can read geo-located articles from Hartmann's A Traveler's Guide to Mars about the solar system's largest canyon, Valles Marineris, its tallest volcano, Olympus Mons, the infamous 'Face on Mars', and many other famous Martian locations.

They can also follow the paths of Mars rovers and view hi-resolution panoramic photos of the Mars surface.

Share This Article With Planet Earth
del.icio.usdel.icio.us DiggDigg RedditReddit
YahooMyWebYahooMyWeb GoogleGoogle FacebookFacebook



Related Links
Google Earth
Mars News and Information at MarsDaily.com
Lunar Dreams and more



Memory Foam Mattress Review
Newsletters :: SpaceDaily :: SpaceWar :: TerraDaily :: Energy Daily
XML Feeds :: Space News :: Earth News :: War News :: Solar Energy News


HiRISE Camera Captures Subtle Colors of Mars' Tiny Moon Deimos
Tempe AZ (SPX) Mar 12, 2009
The High Resolution Imaging Science Experiment, or HiRISE, run from The University of Arizona, has produced new images that show subtle color differences across the smooth surface of Deimos, the smaller and outer tiny moon of Mars.







  • ACCCE Commends Western Governors For Supporting Clean Coal Technologies
  • Broadband Wireless Research Gets Green Light
  • Revealing New Apps For Carbon Nanomaterials In Hydrogen Storage
  • MIT Battery Material Could Lead To Rapid Recharging Of Many Devices

  • Analysis: Nuke waste problem unsolved
  • Analysis: Turkey's energy future
  • France may allow Gulf investors into nuclear giant: FT
  • Vattenfall, RWE, E.ON, EDF in running for Baltic nuclear plant

  • Rendezvous With HALO
  • SKoreans buy air purifiers amid "yellow dust" warning
  • More Reasons To Hate Humidity
  • Scientist Models The Mysterious Travels Of Greenhouse Gas

  • Prince Charles in Brazil to deliver eco-warning
  • Prince Charles pushes eco-agenda in Latin America
  • Danger Lurks Underground For Oak Seedlings
  • World Bank approves 1.3 bln dlrs for Brazilian eco projects

  • Lowly maggot poised to boost income, cut pollution
  • Seed germination control process revealed
  • Liberia invaded by crop-eating caterpillars again: ministry
  • Farmers Saving The Economy Again, But For How Long

  • Sweden to slash 'clean' car taxes, hike diesel price
  • China Geely boss says open to overseas auto deals
  • Singapore-made biofuel to run cars in Europe, North America
  • Car makers get serious on the environment

  • Cathay Pacific lost 1.1 billion dollars in 2008
  • National hypersonic science centers named
  • First China-assembled Airbus set for June delivery: report
  • China's large passenger jet ready in eight years: report

  • Nuclear Power In Space - Part 2
  • Nuclear Power In Space
  • Outside View: Nuclear future in space

  • The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2007 - SpaceDaily.AFP and UPI Wire Stories are copyright Agence France-Presse and United Press International. ESA Portal Reports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additional copyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. Advertising does not imply endorsement,agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by SpaceDaily on any Web page published or hosted by SpaceDaily. Privacy Statement