Yes indeed, you can now start mapping Mars as the USGS and NASA have made available (in SHP format) Mars geology, structures, landing sites and more – Twitter user Larry Buchanan @larrybuch has taken the data and dropped em into QGIS and created/shared a visualization – nice!
you can download mars geology, structures, landings in shp files. drop ’em qgis. so awesome. http://t.co/lU2P8XQGsS pic.twitter.com/Z6PRBWL7Uz
— Larry Buchanan (@larrybuch) July 25, 2014
Details of the data via the USGS… This global geologic map of Mars, which records the distribution of geologic units and landforms on the planet’s surface through time, is based on unprecedented variety, quality, and quantity of remotely sensed data acquired since the Viking Orbiters. These data have provided morphologic, topographic, spectral, thermophysical, radar sounding, and other observations for integration, analysis, and interpretation in support of geologic mapping. In particular, the precise topographic mapping now available has enabled consistent morphologic portrayal of the surface for global mapping (whereas previously used visual-range image bases were less effective, because they combined morphologic and albedo information and, locally, atmospheric haze). Also, thermal infrared image bases used for this map tended to be less affected by atmospheric haze and thus are reliable for analysis of surface morphology and texture at even higher resolution than the topographic products.
