Panoramic Image Of Mars

NASA is calling this incredible 360-view of Mars recently beamed down by the agency's Opportunity rover the "next best thing to being there."

The panoramic view is actually a composite of 817 images taken between Dec. 21 2011, and May 8, 2012, while Opportunity was stationed on an outcrop called "Greeley Haven" during the Martian winter.

According to NASA, false color was added to show the difference between materials on the Red Planet (so what you're seeing may not really be that red or blue).

You can see Opportunity's tracks on the left, which have exposed some darker soil underneath. The Endeavor Crater, which spans about 14 miles in diameter, can be seen at the right of the image just below the horizon.

Click here to see the super large, high-resolution version (it may take a few seconds to load).