Google Earth Maps Offer Stunning 3D Graphics

By: Jennifer Hong
Published: Mar 23, 2009
Updated: Mar 18, 2010

Google and NASA have teamed up to offer a new Mars 3D mode for Google Earth. The new mode will serve as a science instrument on understanding the science behind the Red Planet.

Google Inc and NASA have teamed up to offer a new Mars 3D mode for Google Earth. The new mode will serve as a science instrument on understanding the science behind the Red Planet. The images are truly amazing and provide stunning graphics which scientists can use studying the planet.

"Besides providing a rich, immersive 3D view of Mars that will aid public understanding of Mars science, the new mode, Google Mars 3D, also gives researchers a platform for sharing data similar to what Google Earth provides for Earth scientists," NASA officials said on its Web site.

Google's Maps can also provide a Mars 3D mode which lets computer users fly virtually through canyons on the planet's surface. Some of the mountain tops are much larger than those found on Earth. The virtual mode unveils the entire surface and users can share images based on their own unique exploration.

"Under its terms, NASA and Google agreed to collaborate to make NASA's data sets available to the world," Google officials said in a statement.

Google Earth Maps offers planetary content in Mars 3D mode. While scientists use the application as a tool to better understand the Red Planet, viewers can get a feel of what it would be on another planet.

Mars 3D mode has a variety of indexes available in planetary content designed for Google Earth. It allows viewers to get a better understanding about the Red Planet and a few local schools have already installed the application in science classrooms. While the 3D terrain isn't always the best in some images, it still invites the viewer to a dry world where life might've been habited.

Google Earth 5.0 Offers Landmarks and Infrared Shots in Maps

Google Earth 5.0 does include addition information such as landmarks, day and night scenes, and infrared shots which are exordinary. Users can activate the mode by clicking on the mode icon from the top menu bar and then selecing Mars. The data used on the imagry is from NASA's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter.

In December, NASA used a laser instrument designed to gather knowledge of how the atmosphere and surface interact on Mars. During the study, scientists detected snow from about 2.5 miles in the clouds above the site. These virtual images can also be seen in the new version of application.