text: In 2011 the unmanned Dawn spacecraft became humanity’s first ever emissary to the huge asteroid Vesta, which resides in the asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter. And using images collected by the spacecraft, Nasa has unveiled an interactive tool that lets you explore this world. Using the map you can see a huge amount of features on Vesta, from craters to the amount of sunlight hitting the surface - and switching to ‘3D mode’ also lets you fly around like you were in your own spacecraft. Called Vesta Trek, the interactive programme lets you explore massive craters on the body - which has no atmosphere, and thus no protection like our own Earth. Vesta, discovered in 1807, is the second most massive body in the asteroid belt after the dwarf planet Ceres - which Dawn has now travelled to. It completes a rotation every five hours and 18 minutes, with a temperature ranging from -3°C (27°F) to -188°C (-306°F). Some meteorites on Earth have been found to originate from places like Vesta. As you explore the asteroid, you will come across various ‘troughs’ - areas where the ground sinks away. The largest of these is up to 12 miles (20km) wide and 289 miles (465km) long, similar in size to the Grand Canyon on Earth. Elsehwere there are craters, hills and mountains on the surface, most formed by impacts. On the map you can switch between three main views - over the North Pole, a Global view or looking down onto the South Pole. Various tools also let you find out more information about the asteroid. You can draw lines on the surface to see elevation levels, place a pin to see how the angle of the sun changes at a location over time, or even draw a box to generate files to use with a 3D printer. There’s also an option to 3D print an entire model of Vesta. Nasa scientists in California have revealed an interactive 3D map for Vesta (shown) using images from the Dawn spacecraft. The map lets you see features on the surface including craters, hills, mountains and even 'canyons' You can also measure elevation changes on the surface and see different measurement data. And a 'gaming mode' lets you fly around the largest asteroid in the solar system using your keyboard's arrow keys. In the bottom right of the map is a scale, where you can change the units of measurement by clicking. Aside from using imperial and metric units of measurement - kilometres and miles - it also lets you measure distances in Golden Gate Bridges, football fields and school buses. Various data can also be overlayed on the map, such as the amount of iron or hydrogen in certain regions. The Dawn spacecraft spent a year, from 2011 to 2012, mapping and exploring Vesta. It is so large compared to other asteroids that is sometimes referred to as a minor planet. The spacecraft is now orbiting the dwarf planet Ceres, and over the next few months will be spiraling down closer and closer to image more of it. You can draw lines on the surface to see elevation levels (shown), place a pin to see how the angle of the sun changes at a location over time, or even draw a box to generate files to use with a 3D printer . The Dawn spacecraft spent a year, from 2011 to 2012, mapping and exploring Vesta (illustration shown). It is so large compared to other asteroids that is sometimes referred to as a minor planet .
target: Nasa scientists in California have revealed an interactive 3D map for Vesta using images from the Dawn spacecraft .
  The map lets you see features on the surface including craters, hills, mountains and even 'canyons'
  You can also measure elevation changes on the surface and see different measurement data .
  And a 'gaming mode' lets you fly around the largest asteroid in the solar system using your keyboard's arrow keys .