The United States Geological Survey (USGS) has released a new pair of lunar maps that give users the ability to explore the moon from their homes, according to CBS News. The maps were created using images and information gained from NASA's Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO), which has been taking high-resolution images since 2009 using its wide angle camera, according to Engadget.
"These maps were designed to help both the public and scientists understand the overall appearance and topography of the moon," said USGS officials. "Viewers can locate features of interest, including Apollo landing sites and specific impact craters. Amateur astronomers can use the maps to directly compare what they see through their telescopes to features on the map."
The images have advanced our knowledge of the moon and given us more insight into its history as well as given astronomers an accurate way to verify their observations, according to WHNT.
"High-resolution images have revealed very young lunar volcanoes 10 to 100 million years old, contrary to conventional wisdom, which suggests that lunar volcanism ceased between one and two billion years ago," said Mark Robinson, the LRO Camera principal investigator.
The maps are a vast improvement over the old 1979 Lunar chart and present the entire surface of the moon through high-definition images.
