Photos on Facebook are about to get a lot more immersive.
The social network on Thursday announced that you can now view, and you'll soon be able to share 360-degree images. To try it out, just take a panorama on your iOS or Samsung Galaxy phone, or capture a 360-degree photo using an appropriate app or camera, then post it to Facebook like you normally would. From there, Facebook will convert your image into "an immersive 360 photo that people can explore," similar to how you can view 360 videos on the site.
As you're scrolling through your News Feed, look for the compass icon on the right side of an image, which indicates it's a 360 photo. On your mobile device, you can explore 360 photos by tapping and dragging it, or by simply moving your phone. On the Web, you can click and drag on the image with your mouse to take a look around. You can also explore these images in virtual reality with the Samsung Gear VR.
"Now your friends can experience the moments you share in 360 as if they were actually there with you, from hiking through a national park, to wandering through a museum, to celebrating a wedding," Facebook Product Manager Andy Huang wrote.
Along with 360 photos from friends and family, you should start to see these immersive images from public figures, publishers, and organizations, Facebook said.
"360 photos give you the ability to take the stage in front of 100,000 fans with Paul McCartney, get behind-the-scenes access to the Supreme Court via The New York Times, visit the International Space Station with NASA, and more," Huang wrote.
Starting today, you can view 360 photos via the Web and the latest version of the Facebook app on iOS and Android. Facebook over the next few days plans to roll out the ability for users to share their own.