SlashScope

If you dont have a telescope or a pair binoculars you cant still explore aspects of the nightsky with the assistance of Google's online mapping services. 'Google Mars allows users to view the surface of the Red Planet either by a color-coded altitude map, black and white photographs, or an infra-red map.The launch follows the success of Google Earth, which allows detailed exploration of our planet's surface.Another service, Google Moon, lets users view the sites of moon landings.The maps used on Google Mars were made from images captured by Nasa probes Mars Odyssey and Mars Global Surveyor, both currently orbiting the planet. It launched the service to mark the 151st anniversary of the birth of Percival Lowell, an astronomer who mapped and studied Mars in the 19th century.'