Exploring Mars Using Google Earth
GoogleEarth contains a Mars globe (Google Mars 3D) (not be be confused with Google Mars) with lots of nice Mars layers. But it is possible to add more layers of data yourself. For example, you can add MOC data (Mars Orbiter Camera on board the MGS has produced 1-10 m/pixel high resolution images targeted scientically interesting areas): MOC Narrow Angle high resolution images. This will open your GoogleEarth with MOC verlays shown.
Using tools like MapTiler and scripting in python it is relatively easy to create more Mars layers for Google Mars 3D:
Images from the Shallow Radar (SHARAD) on board the NASA Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter (MRO) are available online at the Planetary Data System (PDS) website. Jelmer Oosthoek and Roderik Koenders created a way to visualize these radargram images as vertical profiles within Google Mars 3D:
Please click here to show the SHARAD footprint lines within Google Mars 3D.
- With this file open, click on the placemark icon for a specific line and the radargram image is shown in a popup window.
- Next click on 'Show radargram as a vertical profile' and the profile is automatically loaded in Google Mars 3D.
Global Mars KML SuperOverlays made using MapTiler by Jelmer Oosthoek from data found on the PIGWAD ftp site