Google Earth can actually be used to represent other planets and moons. For example, here’s a Google Earth add-on for Mars. And, here is an add-on that shows the scale of the planets and moons of our solar system. See links below for more planet add-ons for Google Earth.
Meanwhile, Frans Blok has created a map showing a possible future representation of Mars. Based on inspiration from many science fiction writers, Frans has created a detailed map of what Mars could look like if mankind decided to terraform the planet adding oceans, forests, lakes, rails for transportation, and more. His map is available on his web site modifiedmars.com. Included on the site are a Google Maps-based view of the planet, or you can view his Mars in more detail in Google Earth. In his GE version of Mars (NOTE: 15.9 Mbytes) you can see a 3D model of Phobos and Deimos (moons of Mars), a 3D Clarke space station, clouds, and placemarks of the many locations he’s named on the planet. Naturally, a big part of Frans’ inspiration came from Kim Stanley Robinson’s Mars trilogy which is an excellent sci-fi story about terraforming Mars. Creating this map took a lot of work. His web site has a store where you can buy a posters of the map, or t-shirts.
via The Map Room
Related:
- Google Jupiter – this was a single image of Jupiter I overlayed in GE back in April
- Google Saturn – this uses a 3D model for the clouds, also done by ‘barnabu’
- Mars Add-on for Google Earth
- Google Mars in Google Maps
- Space Atlas for Google Earth
- Jupiter Clouds in Motion
About Frank Taylor
Frank Taylor started the Google Earth Blog in July, 2005 shortly after Google Earth was first released. He has worked with 3D computer graphics and VR for many years and was very impressed with this exciting product. Frank completed a 5.5 year circumnavigation of the earth by sailboat in June 2015 which you can read about at Tahina Expedition, and is a licensed pilot, backpacker, diver, and photographer.
Does anyone know how to add other maps of Mars? I have some maps showing other features like the magnetic field, distribution of epithermal neutrons (shows water and ice), and mineral deposits. Is there a program which can add these into a kml file for example?
There may be a program that can help you with it, but I added these maps manually. Simply drag and drop an image into Google Earth and pull the handles. I had to split it in eight seperate maps;
With one big map Google Earth soemhow scaled down the resolution.
Is there one that’ll make it look like Mars? The original looks a bit like it’s been thru a paper shredder. I know why of course, but it’d be cool to see it with consistent color.