NASA and Google have announced the release of a new Mars mode in Google Earth that allows users to view 3D images of the Red Planet. The application is intended to allow users to virtually explore Mars and to allow researchers to use Mars images the way they currently use images from Google Earth.

Users can perform fly-bys of huge mountains on Mars that are much larger than those found on Earth. Exploring the planet can also be done through the eyes of Mars rovers. Users can also add their own 3D content to the maps to share with the world.

I am guessing that means it will have lots of space ships added to the maps soon. The new Mars service on Google Earth was made possible by the Space Act Agreement from NASA's Ames Research Center. This sounds really cool.

Via NASA