Google Maps the Moon With NASA Images
New higher-resolution lunar imagery and maps are now available on the Google Moon Web site.
Updates include new content from the Apollo missions, including dozens of embedded panoramic images, links to audio clips and videos, and descriptions of the astronauts' activities during the missions. The new content is overlaid on updated, higher-resolution lunar maps. Also added are detailed charts of different regions of the moon suitable for use by anyone simulating a lunar mission.
"NASA's objective is for Google Moon to become a more accurate and useful lunar mapping platform that will be a foundation for future web-based moon applications, much like the many applications that have been built on top of Google Maps," said Chris C. Kemp, director of strategic business development at NASA's Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, Calif. "This will make it easier for scientists everywhere to make lunar data more available and accessible."
Google Moon's visible imagery and topography are aligned with the recently updated lunar coordinate system and can be used for scientifically accurate mission planning and data analysis. The new site is designed to be user-friendly and encourage the exchange of data and ideas among scientists and amateur astronomers.
This announcement closely follows the release of new NASA content in Google Earth, including photographs taken by NASA astronauts and imagery from NASA's Earth observing satellite sensors, such as the Sea-viewing Wide Field of View Sensor, Landsat and the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectrometer.
It also follows the release of Google Sky, a new feature that enables users of Google Earth to view the sky as seen from planet Earth. This easy-to-use tool enables all Google Earth users to view and navigate through 100 million individual stars and 200 million galaxies. High resolution imagery and informative overlays create a unique playground for visualizing and learning about space.
"Never before has a roadmap of the entire sky been made so readily available. Anyone interested in exploring the wonders of our universe can quickly see where the stunning objects photographed by Hubble actually dwell in the heavens. Sky in Google Earth will foster and initiate new understanding of the universe by bringing it to everyone's home computer," said Dr. Carol Christian of STScI, who co-led the organization's Sky team.
For more information:
http://www.google.com/moon/
http://www.nasa.gov/home/hqnews/2007/sep/HQ_07195_Google_Moon.html
http://www.lpi.usra.edu/resources/mapcatalog/usgs/
http://www.lpi.usra.edu/resources/mapcatalog/LAC/
http://pubs.usgs.gov/of/2006/1367/
http://www.google.com/moon/about.html
http://www.astromart.com/news/news.asp?news_id=714
Astromart News Archive:
http://www.astromart.com/news/search.asp?search=.+&search_btn=Go
Updates include new content from the Apollo missions, including dozens of embedded panoramic images, links to audio clips and videos, and descriptions of the astronauts' activities during the missions. The new content is overlaid on updated, higher-resolution lunar maps. Also added are detailed charts of different regions of the moon suitable for use by anyone simulating a lunar mission.
"NASA's objective is for Google Moon to become a more accurate and useful lunar mapping platform that will be a foundation for future web-based moon applications, much like the many applications that have been built on top of Google Maps," said Chris C. Kemp, director of strategic business development at NASA's Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, Calif. "This will make it easier for scientists everywhere to make lunar data more available and accessible."
Google Moon's visible imagery and topography are aligned with the recently updated lunar coordinate system and can be used for scientifically accurate mission planning and data analysis. The new site is designed to be user-friendly and encourage the exchange of data and ideas among scientists and amateur astronomers.
This announcement closely follows the release of new NASA content in Google Earth, including photographs taken by NASA astronauts and imagery from NASA's Earth observing satellite sensors, such as the Sea-viewing Wide Field of View Sensor, Landsat and the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectrometer.
It also follows the release of Google Sky, a new feature that enables users of Google Earth to view the sky as seen from planet Earth. This easy-to-use tool enables all Google Earth users to view and navigate through 100 million individual stars and 200 million galaxies. High resolution imagery and informative overlays create a unique playground for visualizing and learning about space.
"Never before has a roadmap of the entire sky been made so readily available. Anyone interested in exploring the wonders of our universe can quickly see where the stunning objects photographed by Hubble actually dwell in the heavens. Sky in Google Earth will foster and initiate new understanding of the universe by bringing it to everyone's home computer," said Dr. Carol Christian of STScI, who co-led the organization's Sky team.
For more information:
http://www.google.com/moon/
http://www.nasa.gov/home/hqnews/2007/sep/HQ_07195_Google_Moon.html
http://www.lpi.usra.edu/resources/mapcatalog/usgs/
http://www.lpi.usra.edu/resources/mapcatalog/LAC/
http://pubs.usgs.gov/of/2006/1367/
http://www.google.com/moon/about.html
http://www.astromart.com/news/news.asp?news_id=714
Astromart News Archive:
http://www.astromart.com/news/search.asp?search=.+&search_btn=Go
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