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Go on a Virtual Trip to Mars

Posted by michael on from the diy dept.

Jaroslaw Zachwieja writes "The Druantia Virtual Trip to Mars Project has made access to MOLA data simplier than ever. The data is served as 16bit PNG files. A bash script and interpolation program is available to automate the retrieving process. Druantia project (still a little baby in need of developers) aims to allow anyone with decent graphic card and broadband internet connection to explore Mars and interact with other participants connected. The data served is the highest publicly available set with one pixel for approx. 460 meters and (uncompressed) takes 2GB of disk space. Meet you at Olympus Mons? :)"

77 comments

  1. Retirement by pmc255 · · Score: 5, Funny

    Hmm, a good way to start scoping out some prime real estate for my retirement :)

    1. Re:Retirement by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny

      dont forget your sunscreen ;)

    2. Re:Retirement by bvdbos · · Score: 3, Interesting

      Did you read the website. Currently it's snowing on Mars, though not water but CO2... When is the next mission to Mercure?

    3. Re:Retirement by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      and his tinfoil hat...

    4. Re:Retirement by Gordonjcp · · Score: 1

      Sounds good to me... Currently it's 18C in Glasgow, far too hot for this time of year.

    5. Re:Retirement by pipingguy · · Score: 0, Offtopic


      This was modded as funny, but if your 401K isn't up to snuff, retiring down south where the dollar goes further is not exactly a bad idea.

      Then again, once the Mexicans realizes that rich, fat, old (possibly less succesful) Americans are coming, the real estate prices will quintuple. Or will they?

      Some cultures are less-based on hype and are welcoming.

  2. Last week on BBC4: Stephen Baxter's Voyage by NZheretic · · Score: 4, Interesting
    Stephen Baxter's alternate history novel Voyage has been BBC4 radio 7th dimention play of the week.

    Baxter's alternative begins with Lee Harvey Oswald's assassination attempt on John F. Kennedy in Dallas. Although Kennedy is hit, he survives, Jacqueline Kennedy taking the fatal bullet. Kennedy's injuries, however, force him to relinquish his office to Lyndon Johnson and act as a cheerleader for the space program he began as president. The space program then continues much as in our world, including the landing of Neil Armstrong and Joe Muldoon on the Moon on July 20, 1969. Baxter's changes come slowly, as if to say the inertia of history must be taken into account. Eventually, Nixon, at Kennedy's urgings, chooses a Mars program instead of merely the shuttle program he chose in our timeline.

    It's worth listening to, but is only available for one week, the first online (realplayer) episode will be replaced by monday.

    1. Re:Last week on BBC4: Stephen Baxter's Voyage by mordors9 · · Score: 1

      Thanks for the link. I hadn't seen these before.

  3. Related web site: exploreMarsnow by colonist · · Score: 4, Interesting

    Mars buffs should also take a look at exploreMarsnow, although it focuses on a virtual Mars base rather than the planet Mars itself.

    1. Re:Related web site: exploreMarsnow by IPFreely · · Score: 4, Interesting
      Similar sites are MarsQuest and MarsQuest Online.

      MarsQuest includes lots of rover coverage. They have lots of Rover coverage and panorama pictures with zoom and pan and drivable rover simulations. They also have 3D drivable flyovers of several famous Mars locations.

      --
      There is nothing so silly as other peoples traditions, and nothing so sacred as our own.
  4. Don't forget... by DrXym · · Score: 4, Funny

    ... to pack a flashlight.

    1. Re:Don't forget... by krymsin01 · · Score: 4, Funny

      and a towel, of course...

      --
      stuff
    2. Re:Don't forget... by selderrr · · Score: 2, Funny

      and some duct tape ! Doom3 is frustrating as hell from that perspective.

      --
      When will I end this grieving ? When will my future begin ?
    3. Re:Don't forget... by PhrostyMcByte · · Score: 1

      I'd mod you funny if I could. Apparently noone has heard of towelie.

    4. Re:Don't forget... by Randy+Wang · · Score: 3, Informative

      I think he was actually referring to Douglas Adams' concept of the hitchhiker's towel, from The Hitchhiker's Guide To The Galaxy, forever immortalised in his writings:

      Roostar: "Hello. My name is Roostar. And this is my towel."
      Arthur Dent: "Hello, Roostar. Hello, towel."

      --
      --- Egads, I glow in the dark!
    5. Re:Don't forget... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I think that the GP was refering to HHGttG.

  5. Obsolescence by mirko · · Score: 5, Interesting

    10 years ago, Doom was supposed to be a virtual trip on Mars, now it looks a little old, I guess it will soon happen to be the same with this.
    Hence my question : why not making it a game rather than funding it with public money ?

    --
    Trolling using another account since 2005.
    1. Re:Obsolescence by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Hmmm, and all this time I thought Doom as supposed to be a virtual trip to Hell. I don't really remember anything about Mars until Doom III.

    2. Re:Obsolescence by A+Boy+and+His+Blob · · Score: 2, Interesting

      Guess I didn't pay much attention to the plot, heh. I still think Doom 1 and 2 are the best FPS' of all time. I used to be a Co-Sysop on a 4 node BBS that ran SirDoom. I haven't played any other FPS online since, and I'm 23 now. The BBS was VRBBS in Houston if anyone cares.

      Ahhh those were the good times. I should know better than to correct a low ID anyway. ;)

    3. Re:Obsolescence by jeff+munkyfaces · · Score: 2, Interesting

      1px=460m it's going to have to be some kind of giant sim (that's a simulation of being a giant rather than [as well as] being a giant simulation.)

      and also the fact i think most scientists would object to it being populated with things for you to shoot

      The only way would be to make it a driving game - which i suppose could work (would probably be pretty dull as a game though)

    4. Re:Obsolescence by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      because it's hard to explain to the congress people why your virtual trip on mars involves demons from hell tring to steal your soul?

      No, Congress understands perfectly well. They just don't like the competition.

    5. Re:Obsolescence by mattyrobinson69 · · Score: 1

      it could have been done using an open source gaming engine, allowing you to just walk around the surface.

      to keep the whole thing open source would mean forks could be made and a very cool (abeit stolen from doom) game could be made.

    6. Re:Obsolescence by superpulpsicle · · Score: 1

      Oh convincing Congress won't be hard at all. Just mention WMD along with the demons, and the troops are on their way.

  6. Do what Douglas Quaid says! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    "Get your ass to Mars... get your ass to Mars..."

  7. Let's start from UnderHill by advocate_one · · Score: 2, Interesting

    and explore out from there... (If anyone's lost on the reference, read Red Mars, Green Mars and Blue Mars by Kim Stanley Robinson)

    --
    Donald 'Duck' Dunn: We had a band powerful enough to turn goat piss into gasoline.
    1. Re:Let's start from UnderHill by mr_snarf · · Score: 1

      Those were some damn good books. Of course, I stopped reading them about 1/4 of the way through Blue mars, god sort of dull. Can't remember any of it now though, maybe its time to go read it again.

      On that note, are there any other good fictions based on mars around that anyone can recommend?

      --
      printf("Goodbye cruel world!\b\b\b\b\b\b\b\b\b\b\b\b\b\b\b\b\b\b\b\b");
    2. Re:Let's start from UnderHill by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      "god sort of dull"

      Watch out, or he'll smite you.

  8. Slashdotters, take note by Anonymous+Cowdog · · Score: 5, Interesting
    From the site, FYI:


    "PS. No need to abuse the script and leech all the data. This is publicly available information, besides we plan to leave it for the entire life of the project and possibly longer ;)"

  9. Do we get to choose the skins for our avatars? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    If so I'm going as a sexy fem-bot

  10. Kim Stanley Robinson's Mars Map by colonist · · Score: 2, Interesting

    Maybe Druantia could also work on Kim Stanley Robinson's terraformed Mars (ie. Blue Mars).

  11. Comment removed by account_deleted · · Score: 1

    Comment removed based on user account deletion

  12. Comment removed by account_deleted · · Score: 5, Funny

    Comment removed based on user account deletion

  13. I was waiting for this moment: by dabigpaybackski · · Score: 5, Funny
    In a thick Austrian accent: "I want to go to Maars."

    But you know the weird thing is that sometimes I dream that Sharon Stone is my wife.

    --
    "OH SHIT, THERE'S A HORSE IN THE HOSPITAL!"
    1. Re:I was waiting for this moment: by Robert+M.+Wales · · Score: 1

      "But you know the weird thing is that sometimes I dream that Sharon Stone is my wife."

      In my opinion, the Blue Sky On Mars dream would be more probable! And, I'll even throw in a hooker with three titties to boot!

  14. For realism sake by ulpb · · Score: 4, Funny

    Should make it a bit more like an actual NASA exploration of mars and after you move more than 5 meters cause some sort of flash ram error and then send your computer into a week long reboot cycle.

    1. Re:For realism sake by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

      I'll put that on the TODO list for the project, I promise :)

      Maybe contacting the Beagle Team to make sure the landings are realistic as well should be a good idea? /me ducks

      --
      JZ (no, I don't have a ./ account :)

    2. Re:For realism sake by dabigpaybackski · · Score: 1
      Should make it a bit more like an actual NASA exploration of mars and after you move more than 5 meters cause some sort of flash ram error and then send your computer into a week long reboot cycle.

      Meh, I like my idea better: make it like Monopoly so that you can go around buying Cydonian landmarks while being represented by a game avatar that looks like a small pewter dog.

      --
      "OH SHIT, THERE'S A HORSE IN THE HOSPITAL!"
  15. Thought I did it.. by Gentlewhisper · · Score: 0, Redundant

    When i killed cyberdemon..

    --
    Online backup with Mozy, sounds like Ozzie, but more!
  16. For a really cool rendering of Mars.... by centipetalforce · · Score: 3, Interesting

    http://www.planetside.co.uk/terragen/tgd/tgd_mars_ movie.html

  17. Total Recall by Wtcher · · Score: 0, Offtopic

    Is this where I lose my identity and accidentally infiltrate a rogue organization on Mars? Then destroy the plans of some egocentric, half-mad politician?

    Well, I guess Bush isn't half-mad yet.

    --
    ----- Wtcher Dragon, UDIC
    1. Re:Total Recall by tomhudson · · Score: 1
      Remember!
      1. Go to the Mars Hilton
      2. flash the Brubaker ID
      3. get Benny the cabby to take you to the to "The Last Resort"
      4. piss off Melina
      5. go back to the hotel and put a bullet in Sharon Stone's skull (what a waste!)
      6. get mind-fucked by a mutant
      7. turn on the alien oxy generators.
      Where's the "Profit?" Oh, right, Hauser/Cheney doesn't exist any more.
    2. Re:Total Recall by nerdguy569 · · Score: 0, Offtopic
      Well, I guess Bush isn't half-mad yet.
      That's right, he is entirely mad, and being controled by radio.
      --
      In the future, we will all be very smart or very stupid.
    3. Re:Total Recall by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Don't forget the three-boobed alien whore!

  18. Why not just... by geg81 · · Score: 3, Funny

    take this virtual trip to Mars?

    1. Re:Why not just... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Anyone else want to say it?!

  19. Do floors and ceilings stretch out...... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    when you walk through walls on Mars? When you
    look up into the night sky (space), does your
    gun and the horizon smear all over your field of
    vision? Are theyre 8 species made up of nothing
    but twins?....

    1. Re:Do floors and ceilings stretch out...... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0
      Are theyre 8 species made up of nothing but twins?....
      could be, cloning laws don't apply on Mars as far as I know.
  20. X-Plane by Slur · · Score: 4, Interesting

    This would be a good map to convert into X-Plane format. Then you can fly over Mars in a bi-plane or an airliner, just like we'll be doing in 2120.

    --
    -- thinkyhead software and media
    1. Re:X-Plane by meringuoid · · Score: 2, Informative
      This would be a good map to convert into X-Plane format. Then you can fly over Mars in a bi-plane or an airliner, just like we'll be doing in 2120.

      Hey, that's a great idea... I'm amazed nobody's ever done it before!

      --
      Real Daleks don't climb stairs - they level the building.
    2. Re:X-Plane by dabigpaybackski · · Score: 2, Interesting
      Hey, that's a great idea... I'm amazed nobody's ever done it before [x-plane.com]!

      As I recall, the x-plane models flew like shit, thanks to the nearly nonexistent Martian atmosphere. Now if somebody wants to do a blimp model, then that might be a more practical alternative to the white-knuckle experience of landing a fixed-wing Mars airplane at 400 mph. Inflateable craft are also likely to be the favored mount of future Martian explorers, though I would agree that doing Immelmans in a blimp just aren't that exciting.

      --
      "OH SHIT, THERE'S A HORSE IN THE HOSPITAL!"
    3. Re:X-Plane by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      In the current X-Plane package are two planes (a jet and a glider?) that are specially designed for the martian atmosphere http://www.x-plane.com/mars.html.

    4. Re:X-Plane by Ilgaz · · Score: 1

      I tried xplane on my mac and I am sure there are planes designed to fly in martian atmosphere on that game.

      I didn't buy the game but I sure remember it.

  21. Doom (Classic Doom 1 and 2) is still going strong. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Interesting

    Goto www.gamers.org/pub/idgames, or
    www.doomworld.com, and you'll find people are
    still making add on levels for it.
    Not to mention the sourcecode mods (www.zdoom.org,
    to name one)

    I still play Doom on a regular basis, and is
    still doing well even after some of the fancy 3d
    games that came after it are long ago forgotten.

  22. Complete sim? "To Mars"? by MrFreshly · · Score: 2, Funny

    With the 9 months worth of between planet flight time? Sounds a bit like my "Starfield" screen saver...It'd be cooler to have a Virtual Trip ON Mars...:)

  23. Re:Doom (Classic Doom 1 and 2) is still going stro by A+Boy+and+His+Blob · · Score: 1

    Thanks, I'll check it out.

  24. Looks a lot like Worldwind.. by Myself · · Score: 4, Interesting

    This would be great as an add-on dataset for NASA's 3d Earth explorer.

    I'll be happier when I can actually visit. :)

  25. WorldWind by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Insightful

    Why not plug that data into NASA's WorldWind app? Have a "Red Marble" too in addition to the "Blue Marble"

  26. Awesome! by mattr · · Score: 1

    Best argument for me to get a new machine with a spanking graphics card!

    Would be cool if there was a bittorrent-like client to reduce traffic on main server. Hmm interesting.. you could have a P2P distributed terrain client keyed to resolution, updatable via some kind of trusted annotation.

    Well anyway you know that "for the life of the project" just isn't going to be enough for most geeks and so the first 10 will swamp the server.. A good time for a t

    1. Re:Awesome! by mattr · · Score: 1

      ..for a torrent?

  27. I've been on a virtual trip to Mars in Doom3 by Snaller · · Score: 1

    It was very dark.

    --
    If Google really cared they would fix Android Chrome to reflow text, instead of discriminating
  28. Just Make Sure by jstrain · · Score: 0

    to remove the bug from your nose when you get back...

  29. shameless plug by joebolte · · Score: 1

    I should mention that anyone interested in 3-D astronoomy visualizations should check out Celestia, and my site related to it, the Celestia Motherlode. We have a scaled down MOLA dataset, among others availalbe on this page.

  30. Prime space real estate already for sale! by Teechur007 · · Score: 2, Informative

    Believe it or not...real estate IS being sold in space ...damn you Tom Cruise! :) --Teechur007

  31. Mmm... Hi Res Goodness by nick_davison · · Score: 1

    The data served is the highest publicly available set with one pixel for approx. 460 meters.

    Wow. Imagine if this tool with this kind of accuracy was available for Earth?!

    "Dude, where are you?"
    "I'm on Everest."
    "No you're not."
    "Yes I am! It's the biggest damn mountain on the planet."
    "No, you're on a twenty pixel compression artefact."
    "Damn."

  32. For Posterity - Stephen Baxter's Voyage by smoker2 · · Score: 2, Informative

    You can find all the episodes here, no time limits, free download.
    Approx 9MB each episode (5 in all)

    Voyage

    ;-)

    (Note: firefox likes to add .ram to the downloaded filename, not necessary to play).

  33. Quaid! by Cyno01 · · Score: 1

    Start the reactor!

    --
    "Sic Semper Tyrannosaurus Rex."
  34. how about florida... by zxflash · · Score: 1

    they should do this for destinations on earth... every nerd would be able to have their dream vacation without leaving the safety of their home/office/cubicle

    --

    All the torrents you could want.
  35. Very cool demo already available by Kyd_A · · Score: 0

    GeoFusion's Mars Demo
    Very cool.
    http://www.geofusion.com/MarsDemo

  36. Great! by zoloto · · Score: 1

    Wow, how many years will we have to watch a "windows screensaver" before the red planet comes into view... and do we have to restart the mission (ie. the screensaver) when we want to check our email?