New global geologic map of Mars. Source: USGS
A Martian bill of rights is currently in the making (see a previous AstrobioWire post on extraterrestrial governments); now the U.S. Geological Survey has teamed up with NASA to create the most thoroughly researched map of the surface of the Red Planet in existence. The map, when downloaded, looks like this:
The surface of Mars is older than previously thought. Source: USGS
Dr. Kenneth Tanaka, USGS scientist and head of the Mars mapping project, had this to say about the project:
"Spacecraft exploration of Mars over the past couple decades has greatly improved our understanding of what geologic materials, events and processes shaped its surface. The new geologic map brings this research together into a holistic context that helps to illuminate key relationships in space and time, providing information to generate and test new hypotheses."
Rotating Globe of Mars Geology. Source: USGS
But this isn't the first amazingly accurate space map that the USGS have created for NASA. Did you know you can also download USGS maps of the Jovian moons Ganymede and Io? In a press release issued earlier this month, the USGS stated:
"The production of planetary cartographic products has been a focal point of research at the USGS Astrogeology Science Center since its inception in the early 1960s. USGS began producing planetary maps in support of the Apollo Moon landings, and continues to help establish a framework for integrating and comparing past and future studies of extraterrestrial surfaces. In many cases, these planetary geologic maps show that, despite the many differences between bodies in our solar system, there are many notable similarities that link the evolution and fate of our planetary system together."All of these maps are free to download and will be of enormous interest to space enthusiasts. Just follow the links within the text above, or visit the USGS website here.
The new map is part of a growing interest in the fourth rock. After all, Mars is an Earth-sized planet within our Sun's habitable zone. It makes sense that we now have the beginnings of an off-world constitution, as well as a usable map for our closest neighbor. Perhaps it's only a matter of time before we start terraforming the planet for our own uses. As NASA planetary scientist Chris McKay told National Geographic, all you would have to do is "warm it up and throw some seeds."
