NASA, Google provide 3-D views of Mars

A 3-D view of Mars is now available on Google Earth, NASA and Google announced today.

The new Mars mode provides high-resolution views of the planet and enables users to virtually fly through canyons and scale mountains on Mars, according to NASA. Users can also explore the planet through the eyes of the Mars rovers.

Satellite imagery from NASA’s Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter and other probes orbiting the planet is also available via the new mode, which allows users to add their own 3-D content.

The project was developed under a Space Act Agreement that NASA’s Ames Research Center signed with Google in November 2006, according to NASA. Under its terms, NASA and Google agreed to collaborate to make the data NASA collects available online.