How to Explore the Surface of Mars Using Google Mars

The same technology that Google Maps uses to help you find the nearest coffee shop can now help you explore the surface of Mars. Google has used a mosaic of NASA images to create a full scale map of the surface of mars.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

1. Go to http://www.google.com/mars/ to load Google Mars.

2. Look at the top right corner of the map. The three buttons there let you visualize the map by the Elevation, Visible Spectrum, and Infrared Spectrum (the different visualization spectrums represent the differing imaging modalities used by different probes).

3. The navigation controls work the same as they do in Google Maps. Use the + and – buttons to zoom and click and drag the image to scroll around.

4. Look at the top left corner of the map, next to the Google logo. Listed are sites of interest such as geologic formations and spacecraft landing sites. Clicking on the information balloons for the sites of interest will send you to the appropriate NASA webpage with more information and pictures on the subject.

5. Check out Tholus Summit in a few months, I hear that they'll be building a Starbucks there soon.

Tips & Warnings

• Be sure to examine areas of interest in all the different spectrums. Some have more detail than others
• To find the highest quality images, visit the NASA website.

Resources

• Google Mars

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