Scientists have just produced the best map yet of Antarctica. The map is a photomosaic, created by piecing together more than a thousand photographs taken by a NASA satellite. The mapmakers spent three years taking satellite images to create the cloudless picture.
The result is a beautiful portrait of the continent's frozen landscape. But it is more than a pretty picture. "This mosaic of images opens up a window to the Antarctic that we just haven't had before," says NASA scientist Robert Bindschadler. It will help researchers plan new scientific expeditions and allow the public to get a detailed look at the continent. How much better is the new map? "It's like watching high-definition TV in living color instead of watching a grainy picture in black and white," says Bindschadler. Check out the icy sights at lima.usgs.gov.