Beyond Google Earth

Google Earth, one of Google’s more exciting side projects has received yet another upgrade. The application has already seen one add on this year when Google Ocean allowed users to look at the sea bed as well as the landmasses of earth. Now, however, it appears that Google have shaken off terrestrial bonds, adding a function that allows users to view the surface of Mars in the same way that they do Earth.

Granted, Mars doesn’t have quite the same ‘hey look there’s my house’ appeal that Earth managed but it’s still very impressive. The images come from the Themis camera, one of NASA’s toys that constantly photographs the surface of the planet. This means that often the images of the surface appear on the application a mere few hours after NASA receives them.

Of course, unless you’re an astronomer, just looking at the surface of Mars is not going to do much for you learning wise. For this reason Google have helpfully laid on a guided tour feature that takes you across the planet explaining to you what everything is on the Martian surface.

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