Google Maps of the solar system has arrived and it's called Geostac. This is a version which, obviously, presents substantial differences with the terrestrial variant, given that the images are the result of a collection of very high resolution photos, which over the years we have received from the various satellites and space probes that have pushed towards the limits of our solar system.
This service is not offered directly by Google, as the research was carried out by the US Geological Institute, which has access to an overview of almost thirty planets, asteroids and satellites.
The type of display of these images follows that of the traditional maps that we find in every Italian school, that is, a projection of the plane and in the shape of a sphere, as if they were a kind of large globe.
But let's discover together every detail regarding the Geostac project: How to travel among the stars with Geostac: the characteristics of the project
The Geostac section, belonging to the project of the Geological Institute of the United States of America, is a large archive of images that are the result of an extreme technological evolution.
Naturally, the various planets belonging to our solar system are part of this collection. Anyone now has the opportunity to observe, for example, the surface of Mercury and the nearby red planet, Mars, and even distant Neptune and Uranus.
Obviously, for planets located in the most remote spaces, the details are lower and there is only one map. For the others, however, various maps have been developed, which are the result of the union of the work of the various probes and satellites used to complete the Geostac project.
To obtain close-up scans, to be combined with the images we currently have, some more time will be needed and it is not certain that it is a feasible operation, given that it requires an approach similar to that carried out with the Rovers on Mars.
What to do to view Geostac images: here are the different steps
With Geostac the distant planets of the solar system become a little closer to us. The thousands of photos accessible today were taken over the last few decades, especially thanks to the work of the instruments belonging to NASA and ESA.
But what do you need to do to view Geostac images? First of all, it should be specified that on this platform it is possible to observe the maps using simple navigation functions.
The display shapes we have available are the flat and the spherical. Furthermore, it is possible to analyze the images from various perspectives, zooming in on the areas where there are detections with greater detail.
Another very interesting function is the possibility of selecting the probe that carried out the various measurements, inspecting the portion of the surface directly from the vehicle's camera perspective.
Therefore, thanks to the tools offered by Geostac, users can analyze the different portions of satellites, planets or asteroids, as well as the various probes that made the measurements. In this way, it is also possible to obtain data regarding the precise shooting date.
The metadata part is located on the right column of the screen, while on the left is the functional drop-down menu, which allows you to navigate intuitively from one map to another and from one planet to another.
Technological advancement and exploration of the solar system must not divert attention from our planet Earth
Geostac is an extremely interesting and useful project, both from a technological and scientific point of view. This new system, however, must also serve to make us reflect. In fact, as interesting and fascinating as it is, Geostac allows us to view and delve into the maps of planets, asteroids and satellites that, most likely, we will never see in our lifetime.
Therefore, this media attention received by this project can push us to show the same interest in Google Maps, a tool that for several years, and in an increasingly detailed and precise way, has been telling us about planet Earth. Considering that we will live on this surface for many more generations, it is good to get back in touch and in tune with it.
Very interesting, in this sense, is the project that Google Maps makes available via Google Earth. In fact, there is a new viewing mode that allows you to view a timelapse of what happens and what will happen if we fail to avoid the increase in temperatures, which will cause further and inevitable melting of the glaciers, with the consequences we all know.
(All screenshots used in this article are taken from the official website: https://stac.astrogeology.usgs.gov/geostac/
