Google's Street View online mapping service is incorporating additional images from Antarctica. Back in September 2010 Google launched the first Street View imagery of the Antarctic, enabling people from more habitable lands to see penguins in Antarctica for the first time. Today Google is bringing additional panoramic imagery of historic Antarctic locations that userts can view from the comfort of their homes.

The new images include flags marking the South Pole and the interiors of the supply cabins built for Ernest Shackleton's and Robert Scott's expeditions early in the 20th century. They are part of Google's Street View program, which offers ground-level, 360-degree panoramic images.

This new imagery was collected with a lightweight tripod camera with a fisheye lens-equipment typically used to capture business interiors through the Business Photos program. Google sais it worked with this technology because of its portability, reliability and ease-of-use.

"The goal of these efforts is to provide scientists and travel (or penguin) enthusiasts all over the world with the most accurate, high-resolution data of these important historic locations," Alex Starns, Technical Program Manager, Street View posted in a blog post.

Google has been expanding its map offerings as it faces more competition. Apple recently ended a five-year partnership with Google and has announced its own service.