Blog

July 2024 QuickMap Release

July 8, 2024

We are very excited to introduce the latest version of Lunar QuickMap, a powerful web-based map for exploring the Moon in both 2D and 3D. This update brings a host of exciting new features and improvements that will enhance your lunar exploration experience. Here’s a summary of what’s new:

New Data

ShadowCam

Explore ShadowCam PDS data via our Search Products capabilities. Draw a point, click 'Search', select 'ShadowCam (PDS)', to browse a list of all observations for that site, including the ablity to load any observation for viewing

Apollo Traverses

Detailed traverses of the Apollo missions are now available under the 'Past Missions' layer group.

Polar NACs matching Illumination

Explore lighting conditions using actual NAC observations. This layer is a mosaic from a ranked list of the map projected NAC images.The resulting mosaic represents the actual terrain illumination at the current quickmap UTC time.

....And More

Added various layers focusing on the poles.

From Kaguya: Polar Plagiocase Abundance, Polar Olivine Abundance, Polar Feo Abundance, Polar High-Calcium Pyroxen Abundance, Polar Low-Calcium Pyroxene Abundance, Polar QMAP, and Correlation Coeff. for Polar Mineral Maps

From mini-RF: Mini-RF S1 over Malapert

From LRO DIVINER: Bolometric Temp Anomaly, Regolith Temp, Regolith Temp Anomaly, Rock Abundance

New Features

Shadows

Experience the moon in a whole new light with the ability to enable shadows in 3D mode. Accessible via the 3D Settings menu, you can now choose your light source, whether it be the Earth or the Sun, to see realistic shadows cast across the lunar surface.

First-Person Viewer Mode

Step into the boots of an astronaut with our new first-person viewer mode. Explore the moon’s surface as if you were walking on it, providing an immersive and personal perspective of the lunar landscape.

Traverse Mode

Draw a path and simulate a traverse over that path with our new traverse mode. Follow an astronaut or rover as it navigates the surface of the moon, giving you a dynamic and interactive way to plan and visualize lunar explorations.

Compass

Navigating the moon in 3D can be challenging, so we’ve added a compass feature. This tool shows your orientation relative to north and indicates the current positions of the Earth and Sun, helping you stay oriented during your explorations.

Additional Camera / Planetary position info

Get detailed information about the current position of the camera and planetary bodies with our new pop-up feature. This provides precise data to enhance your understanding and navigation of the lunar environment.

Detailed Entity Info

Select any 3D entity to access detailed information about its current position and its relation to planets or other entities. This feature offers in-depth insights into various objects on the moon.

Context Cameras

Open independent views as popover maps over the main view with our new context cameras feature. Whether you want a nadir view from your current location, always track the Sun/Earth, or point towards a satellite, this tool provides multiple versatile viewing options.

Compute Visibility

Our new visibility analysis tool lets you run visibility analysis over a period of time, either at a given position or over a traverse. This feature is invaluable for planning observations and missions.

Generate 3D Panoramas

Create stunning 3D panoramas with various output options, including standard panoramic views and cubemaps. These can be used to simulate a 3D environment, offering breathtaking visualizations of the lunar surface.

Import GeoTIFF (2D only) with Dynamic stretching

We’ve enhanced our 2D mode with the ability to import GeoTIFF rasters. Select bands and apply dynamic stretching to optimize your imagery, now with optimized support for Cloud Optimized GeoTIFF (COG).

We invite you to explore these new features and enhancements in the latest version of Lunar QuickMap. Whether you’re a scientist, educator, or lunar enthusiast, these tools are designed to enrich your lunar exploration experience. Stay tuned for more updates and happy exploring!