Desktop Mars
A different world, on your desk.
A desktop Mars built from the Globe architecture, with Viking surface imagery and Mars-specific solar illumination.
Native render exports. Lab 3D reuses the app’s surface mosaic with illustrative lighting and a smooth sphere.
What it does.
Desktop Mars adapts the native Globe renderer to another planet. The Earth-specific ocean and city lights are removed; a Viking global mosaic and Mars24 solar calculations define the Martian view.
Viking surface imagery
A NASA Ames/USGS Viking MDIM 2.1 global mosaic wraps the sphere. Its colorization is artistic, not calibrated true color.
Martian illumination
The native app uses NASA GISS Mars24 equations for solar direction and supports current or selected times.
Familiar manipulation
Drag, pinch, scroll, and keyboard controls share the Globe interaction model, including guided rotation and reset.
Desktop integration
Saved placement, floating mode, size presets, showcase rotation, and adaptive idle rendering.
A closer look.
Behind the application.
Current status
A universal, locally ad-hoc signed macOS release package is present. No public notarized release was verified.
Asset credits
NASA Ames / USGS, artistically colorized Viking MDIM 2.1 global mosaic.