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Mars in 3-D: So detailed it's scary

New images from the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter show the Red Planet's surface in extraordinary detail—and in three dimensions to boot. The photos, known as anaglyphs, come from the orbiter's High Resolution Imaging Science Experiment, or HiRISE, billed as the most powerful camera ever placed in another planet's orbit.

NASA and the University of Arizona, one of the science partners in HiRISE, picked a great destination for such advanced equipment: the peaks and craters of Mars stand out in mind-bogglingly stark relief. (The University of Arizona says that the camera resolves features as small as 3.3 feet, or one meter.) You might find yourself, as this reporter did, leaving smudges on your computer screen as you try to touch the raised rim of a crater. A word of caution, though: don't try to view all 362 images in one sitting—scrolling through the massive high-rez landscapes can make one a bit carsick after a while. But for the privilege of a virtual tour of the Martian surface from the comfort of your home or office, a little nausea seems a small price to pay.

If you find yourself fresh out of 3-D glasses, which are necessary for viewing the anaglyphs, don't fret: NASA has instructions on where to get them or how to make your own.

Photo credit: NASA/JPL/University of Arizona

Tags: 3-D images, MRO, three-dimensional, space exploration
More News Blog: Next: Dogs' Bark: Not fair! Study shows pups get jealous Previous: SciAm and CNN keep an eye on a Planet in Peril

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  1. 1. europanorama in reply to 12:48 AM 12/15/08

    http://hirise.lpl.arizona.edu/anaglyph/index.php
    link does not work. meanwhile enjoy worlds best 3dstereo-panorama-viewer STEREOBEE(from france-thank you etienne monneret). breathtaking 3dstereo-marspanoramas/alpspanorama like never before. much better 3dstereomars and alpspans to come.
    www.europanorama.tk
    www.europanorama.ch.vu
    FREEVIEWING-no need for anaglyph-glasses(but option)
    swiss alps-3dstereo-aeropanorama shot by michael przewrocki-mpa-basel switzerland

    Reply | Report Abuse | Link to this
  2. 2. europanorama 12:51 AM 12/15/08

    http://hirise.lpl.arizona.edu/anaglyph/index.php
    link does not work.
    meanwhile enjoy worlds best 3dstereo-panorama-onlineviewer STEREOBEE. FREEVIEWING-no need for anaglyph-glasses(but option).
    breathtaking 3dstereo-marspanoramas/alpspanorama like never before. much better 3dstereopans from mars and alps to come.
    www.europanorama.tk
    www.europanorama.ch.vu

    swiss alps-3dstereo-aeropanorama shot by michael przewrocki-mpa-master of panorama arts-basel switzerland

    Reply | Report Abuse | Link to this
  3. 3. verdai 05:50 PM 1/23/09

    Fine.
    Bypass the Moon by all means.
    Go Directly to Mars.
    Collect Any amount of money-

    I am serious .

    For this we do need our Space Station, so dont knock it at all.

    Literally.

    Reply | Report Abuse | Link to this
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