Facebook users may now visually explore the surface of Mars with the help of an awe-inspiring 360-degree view of the Red Planet.
NASA's Mars Curiosity rover sent the picture on Saturday, after its previously snapped selfie went viral only a day before. The official Facebook page of the remote Martian explorer features the interactive image, so users could get a feeling of what Matt Daemon's character would have felt.
"Use your smart phone to explore Mars with me in 360 degrees. #FromWhereIStand," the space agency says.
The 360-degree panorama gives a good glimpse into the downward face of the Namib Dune, which features dunes as high as 16 feet. The location is part of the dark-sand Bagnold Dunes that sits on the northwestern flank of Mount Sharp.
One of the purposes of the space explorer is to investigate how the Red Planet's environment shifted from its speculated favorable microbial life conditions to its current, arid aspect.
Merging multiple shots taken by the Mars Hand Lens Imager (MAHLI) camera resulted in the interactive image. The MAHLI is the snapper attached to the Curiosity Mars rover's arm.
This is not the first footage that Curiosity sent NASA from the Red Planet.
Last year, the space probe forwarded a few images and some of them were controversial, making scientists wonder what they are looking at.
The rover first set wheel on Mars on Aug. 6, 2012. Since then, the Curiosity rover has been gathering samples of Martian soil and taking footage aimed at helping the space researchers get a better grasp at the fourth planet from the Sun.
A while back, Curiosity also scooped and dug the sand dunes of Mars to better understand the dynamic of its winds.
The rover even delivered detailed photos of the grainy sand dunes, which could help researchers better determine the geological nature of the planet. The little explorer is in trend with the life on Earth, as it is shown in the posh selfies it took on Mars.
Mark Zuckerberg showed his support and enthusiasm for the possible blend of space exploration and virtual reality by posting NASA's latest 360 degree image on his official page.
Take a look below at the interactive image/video, and enjoy the view of Mars through Curiosity's camera.
Let us know in the comments section if you are excited as we are about the future of space exploration.
Use your smart phone to explore Mars with me in 360 degrees. #FromWhereIStand
Posted by NASA’s Curiosity Mars Rover on Saturday, January 30, 2016
