NASA, Microsoft launch Web site on Mars

LOS ANGELES. November 18. KAZINFORM NASA and Microsoft Corp. have collaborated to create a Web site to allow earthlings to become Martians, NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) announced on Tuesday; Kazinform refers to Xinhua.

By surfing the "Be a Martian" Web site, internet users can have fun while advancing their knowledge of Mars, the JPL said in a press release.

The public will be able to participate as citizen scientists to improve Martian maps, take part in research tasks, and assist Mars science teams studying data about the Red Planet.

The Web site will also enable the public to explore details of the solar system's grandest canyon, which resides on Mars, call up images in the Valles Marineris canyon before moving on to chart the entire Red Planet.

The collaboration of thousands of participants could assist scientists in producing far better maps, enabling smoother zoom-in views and easier interpretation of Martian surface changes.

By counting craters, the public also may help scientists determine the relative ages of small regions on Mars, according to the release; Kazinform cites Xinhua.

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