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Explore the solar system with Google Maps

Just don't ask it for directions

Explore the solar system with Google Maps

Just don't ask it for directions

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Explore the solar system with Google Maps

Just don't ask it for directions

With Google Maps, you can see the Golden Gate Bridge, tour the Pyramids of Giza, or study the largest volcano in the solar system, Olympus Mons.Of course, if you're planning vacation destinations you might want to skip Olympus Mons. That volcano sits on the planet Mars, which might be a little outside your vacation budget. But that shouldn't stop you from looking at it on Google Maps, along with dozens of other solar system locales.The search giant is known for its accurate maps and satellite images of nearly every point on Earth, and has recently been working to expand the service beyond the surface. A few months ago, for instance, the Google Maps team added the ability to explore the International Space Station in Google Street View.Now, using data from NASA and ESA spacecraft, the Maps team has added the ability to explore nearly every major solid body in our solar system, from Mercury to Pluto. Among the attractions include the icy moons of Enceladus and Europa, where we have one of the best chances of finding life; the cold methane lakes of Titan, the only place outside the inner solar system where we've landed a spacecraft; and the dwarf planet Ceres, which lies with the asteroid belt beyond Mars and where the Dawn spacecraft has been orbiting for the past two years.There are a lot of locations to choose from, and a big solar system to explore. Source: Google

With Google Maps, you can see the Golden Gate Bridge, tour the Pyramids of Giza, or study the largest volcano in the solar system, Olympus Mons.

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Of course, if you're planning vacation destinations you might want to skip Olympus Mons. That volcano sits on the planet Mars, which might be a little outside your vacation budget. But that shouldn't stop you from looking at it on Google Maps, along with dozens of other solar system locales.

The search giant is known for its accurate maps and satellite images of nearly every point on Earth, and has recently been working to expand the service beyond the surface. A few months ago, for instance, the Google Maps team added the ability to explore the International Space Station in Google Street View.

Now, using data from NASA and ESA spacecraft, the Maps team has added the ability to explore nearly every major solid body in our solar system, from Mercury to Pluto. Among the attractions include the icy moons of Enceladus and Europa, where we have one of the best chances of finding life; the cold methane lakes of Titan, the only place outside the inner solar system where we've landed a spacecraft; and the dwarf planet Ceres, which lies with the asteroid belt beyond Mars and where the Dawn spacecraft has been orbiting for the past two years.

There are a lot of locations to choose from, and a big solar system to explore.

Source: Google