Explore the Surface of Mars in 360°

Can You Really Explore Mars in 360 Degrees?

Yes. You can virtually explore the real surface of Mars in immersive 360 video using high-resolution imagery captured by NASA missions and visualized through OpenSpace, the same software powering presentations at the Hayden Planetarium in New York.

You will fly above Valles Marineris, descend into Olympus Mons, and witness the North Polar Ice Cap using authentic scientific data.

Jump directly to details: How the 360 Mars Experience Works

Key Takeaways

Authentic NASA Data The visuals are not simulations invented for entertainment. They are stitched from real high-resolution orbital imagery collected by NASA spacecraft.

Powered by OpenSpace, open-source visualization software called OpenSpace dynamically renders the known universe and powers shows at the Hayden Planetarium.

Explore Major Martian Landmarks: You can virtually fly through Valles Marineris, explore Olympus Mons, and examine the frozen North Polar Ice Cap in immersive 360 degrees.

Backed by Scientific Institutions The project is funded in part by NASA and supported by the Knut and Alice Wallenberg Foundation, the Swedish Research Council, and the Swedish e-Science Research Centre.

How the Mars 360 Experience Works

When I first explored Mars in 360 video, what struck me most was this: it did not feel like watching a documentary. It felt like hovering above another planet.

The immersive journey uses real imagery gathered by NASA orbiters such as the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter and other deep space missions. These spacecraft capture ultra-detailed surface data. That data is then stitched together and rendered in OpenSpace, an open-source interactive data visualization platform.

OpenSpace is the same software system used to power live presentations at the Hayden Planetarium Space Theater inside the American Museum of Natural History in New York.

This is not cinematic CGI for entertainment. It is scientifically accurate planetary mapping translated into a navigable experience.

Fly Across Valles Marineris

What Makes It So Special?

Valles Marineris is one of the largest canyon systems in the entire solar system. Stretching over 4,000 kilometers, it dwarfs Earth’s Grand Canyon. When I explored it in 360, I could look left and right and see canyon walls towering higher than Mount Everest.

Seeing it in immersive format changes your understanding of scale. It is not just a geological feature. It is a planetary scar.

Descend Into Olympus Mons

Olympus Mons is the tallest volcano in the solar system. It stands about 22 kilometers high, nearly three times the height of Mount Everest.

During the 360 journey, I tilted my view downward into its caldera. The rim stretches hundreds of kilometers wide. The silence of that massive volcanic basin feels almost spiritual.

Witness the North Polar Ice Cap

Mars is not just red dust. Its North Polar Ice Cap contains layers of frozen water ice and carbon dioxide ice.

In the 360 view, I rotated slowly and could see the layered stratigraphy carved by seasonal changes. Scientists study these layers to understand Martian climate cycles, much like tree rings on Earth.

NASA data shows that the polar ice cap can span more than 1,000 kilometers across during winter seasons.

Where to Experience It Live

If you want a guided version of this experience, visit the Hayden Planetarium Space Theater in New York.

Who Funds and Supports OpenSpace?

OpenSpace is funded in part by NASA under award No. NNX16AB93A. It is also supported by the Knut and Alice Wallenberg Foundation, the Swedish Research Council known as Vetenskapsrådet, and the Swedish e-Science Research Centre.

Important note: Any findings or conclusions presented in OpenSpace experiences do not necessarily reflect the official views of NASA.

Official OpenSpace website: openspaceproject.com

Why This Experience Matters for the Future of Mars Exploration

Immersive visualization is not just for public engagement. Scientists use spatial tools like OpenSpace to analyze terrain, plan rover routes, and simulate mission strategies.

With upcoming Mars sample return missions and continued robotic exploration, these tools help bridge the gap between raw data and human understanding.

When I explored Mars in 360 degrees, I understood something deeply: the red planet is no longer abstract. It is mapped, measured, and within reach.

Frequently Asked Questions About Exploring Mars in 360

Final Insight

If you are fascinated by space, do not just read about Mars. Explore it. The combination of real NASA data and immersive visualization transforms scientific imagery into something personal and unforgettable.