Finding CTX images with the Web Map
The web map lets you find CTX images for areas on Mars just by pointing and clicking.

In essence, the process works as follows. Begin by zeroing in on a particular feature or area using the map. Then use filters to identify images available for that location. Finally, open the images and download them.

Each map element (Operators, Background, etc.) has a specific function, described below.

At the end of this guide are some useful hints and suggestions.

ctxHomeImage


Quick Help
quickhelp
Clicking this icon pops up a highly condensed guide to finding CTX images, aimed at first-time users.

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Operators
Operator buttons control what a mouse click on the map does.
zi
After you click the Zoom In operator button, a mouse click on the map recenters the map on that point and zooms in by a factor of about 2. You can zoom in repeatedly. Distortion will occur in some areas, because the map is a simple cylindrical projection.
zo
After you click the Zoom Out operator button, a mouse click on the map recenters the map on the point and zooms out by a factor of 2. You can repeat this until the whole map is visible.
pan
After you click the Pan operator button, a mouse click on the map recenters the map on that point without changing the magnification.
select
After you click the Select operator button, a mouse click anywhere on the map looks for a CTX image covering that point. If any exist, a link for each image appears in both the Thumbnail frame and the Image List. Click either the thumbnail or the reference number to open a new browser window with details of that image and downloading options.
link
Clicking the Link to this Page operator button creates a link in your browser's address window that captures the current filters, map background, zoom-in state and chosen images. If you save the link as a Bookmark or a Favorite, you can return to that point at any time.
help
Clicking the Help operator button opens this user guide.

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Position
pos

The position display gives the Martian latitude and longitude of the mouse point in degrees and decimals of a degree. Latitude is given first and runs from 90° north to 90° south. Longitude increases eastward from 0° to 360°, measuring from the central meridian.

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Slider
slider
The slider control gives users an additional method of changing the map resolution by a factor of 2 or more. Clicking the + icon on the slider causes the map to zoom in by a factor of 2. Clicking the - icon on the slider causes the map to zoom out by a factor of 2. Clicking or dragging on the slider's red bar between the + and - icons, allows the user to jump instantly to any valid map resolution.

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Release

You can search for CTX images by adjusting the Release filter. At this time, the filter only allows users to view all or no CTX images. Future versions may divide the dataset into years.
release
Choosing all releases redraws the map to show the footprints of all CTX images.

Choosing none clears the map of all footprints.


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Background
All background maps are simple cylindrical projections and have a resolution of roughly 64 pixels per degree, or about 1 kilometer (half a mile) per pixel at the equator. The projection becomes increasingly distorted toward the poles.
bg
Choosing albedo displays a grayscale surface map derived from Viking Orbiter data. At right is an albedo thumbnail of the Valles Marineris region.
bg
bg
Choosing shaded relief displays a grayscale shaded-relief map created from Mars Orbiter Laser Altimeter (MOLA) topographic data. At right is a shaded-relief thumbnail of the Valles Marineris region.
bg
bg
Choosing mola displays a vividly colored shaded-relief map derived from Mars Orbiter Laser Altimeter (MOLA) topographic data and United States Geological Survey (USGS) digital maps. At right is a mola thumbnail of the Valles Marineris region. The mola background is the default choice when the map loads.
bg
bg
Choosing mola 2 displays a traditionally colored shaded-relief map derived from Mars Orbiter Laser Altimeter (MOLA) topographic data and United States Geological Survey (USGS) digital maps. At right is a mola 2 thumbnail of the Valles Marineris region.
bg

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Map
What you see on the map reflects your current choices of resolution and background.
map
In this example, the user chose to display CTX observations, represented here as narrow blue strips, on mola 2 color shaded-relief map centered over the Tharsis region.

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Image List
The Image List gives the reference numbers of any CTX image footprints that cover the map spot the mouse clicked on (in Select Mode).
il
In the example at left, three images were found. Hover over the links with a mouse to display the full image name. Clicking any of the links would pop open a window providing detailed information about the image.

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Thumbnails
When you choose the Select operator (see above) and click on the map, the Thumbnails frame shows small versions of any CTX images covering the spot the mouse clicked on.
tnails
In this example, three images were found. Hover over the links with a mouse to display the full image name. Clicking any thumbnail pops open a window giving detailed information about the image and choices of image formats for downloading.
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Some hints, suggestions, and caveats
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