Google Mars HiRISE base images for Opportunity |
Google Mars HiRISE base images for Opportunity |
Sep 28 2010, 09:23 PM
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Administrator Group: Admin Posts: 5172 Joined: 4-August 05 From: Pasadena, CA, USA, Earth Member No.: 454 |
Because it has become a forum FAQ, I've created this sticky thread containing information on where to obtain new base images for Opportunity's traverse for Google Mars, and for discussion on creating new ones. I will continue to add links to new base image layers to this first post as they become available.
New users: Download this 4-MB kml file and open it in Google Earth Then go to the last post in the Opportunity Route Map thread for the latest traverse map You need to download the new KML file each time in order to follow Opportunity's peregrinations. Google Mars comes with a color base image mosaic created from HRSC imagery. In addition, there is an inset full-resolution HiRISE image covering the area from the landing site at Eagle crater, through Victoria, up to the point between sol 2040 and 2041 (just west of Mackinac) where Opportunity drove off the map. Unfortunately, this Victoria crater HiRISE layer included within Google Mars is not perfectly registered to the HRSC base map. As far as is known, there is nothing to be done about that. Both John Cody's image layers and Eduardo Tesheiner's traverse maps are aligned with the inset HiRISE layer included with Google Mars, NOT to the HRSC base map. In June 2009 SFJCody posted a reduced-resolution mosaic of HiRISE tiles that cover the entire future traverse area including Endeavour's rim. I have made some small modifications to that map and have hosted it in a single file here (17 MB). Download the file, run Google Earth, select the Mars view, and File>Open the KMZ to view it. In September 2009 SFJCody posted another HiRISE base image, this one at full resolution, covering the Western Route and reaching not quite all the way to Santa Maria. Here is a link to the kml file (4 MB). Here is a link to a zipped version if you'd prefer to have it locally (256 MB) and I also wrote a blog entry about it. During the discussion below, in late 2010, I created a small tile that covers just the immediate area around Santa Maria. Here is a link to the kml file covering that region. In February 2011 Eduardo Tesheiner provided another set of base images covering the area from Santa Maria to Endeavour's rim. Here is a link to the kml file. If you would like to work from a local copy, you can download this 75 MB zip file and unzip it to a folder on your drive, then open the file PSP_010341_1775_RED.kml within it. All three base images can be loaded at once using this kml file (the same one that is linked to at the very top of this post). -------------------- My website - My Patreon - @elakdawalla on Twitter - Please support unmannedspaceflight.com by donating here.
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Aug 12 2012, 10:23 PM
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Senior Member Group: Moderator Posts: 4280 Joined: 19-April 05 From: .br at .es Member No.: 253 |
Some people already mentioned that the background maps at Curiosity's landing site were updated. Actually, there was an update not only to that part of the planet but a much more global one, incluing changes here at Opportunity's site too. You might remember that HiRISE coverage on GE was only available around the landing site and Victoria, and there was and effort here at UMSF to extend that coverage up to Endeavour (see Emily's blog). Later on, Ross Beyer of NASA/AMES mentioned about a working project and provided us access to newer and great background layers (see here). Now, it looks like those ones have been finally released and integrated on the "mainstream" Google Earth / Mars database.
Well, not only that. Zoom in at the Opportunity site, double-clicking on the "MER Opportunity Rover" layer, and you will see that the route path embedded on GE which was cut short right after Victoria has been updated too and covers the ground up to the last driving sol. Also, the "ground features" along the route were also updated and are the same ones I use in my route map. Coincidence? No. Have a look to the bubble which opens after clicking on the link at the "MER Opportunity Rover (USA)" layer. Some time ago, I was asked permission to integrate my route map updates into Google Earth in a way that they could be viewed not only by the people here but also by *anyone* on Internet using GE. We agreed a mechanism to do that (a sort of pipeline) so if everything is working correctly (and it was until the last drive) the path "embedded" on GE should be updated too in a short time. I like it. |
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