Landsat satellites have begun regularly acquiring images of ice at the poles during the winter, with enlightening results.
Astronauts and photographers captured unforgettable views of Earth and the Sun as the Moon’s shadow swept across North America.
Poppies are sparse, but yellow wildflowers are blooming in Southern California.
Published Apr 15, 2024
This reddish “burning mountain” of granite is the highest point in Namibia.
Published Apr 14, 2024
The amount of snow in the California-Nevada mountain range was about average in April 2024—a rare occurrence.
Published Apr 12, 2024
Human-made lakes along the western U.S. river were drained as part of the world’s largest dam removal project to date.
Published Apr 11, 2024
Satellites gathered striking views of the Moon’s shadow from above as observers on the ground were awed by the Sun’s corona.
Published Apr 9, 2024
Images spanning four decades show how buildings and blacktop have spread into Ireland’s countryside.
Published Apr 9, 2024
Chiang Mai, a city in northern Thailand popular with tourists, faces seasonal spikes in air pollution.
Published Apr 8, 2024
Distinct textures stand out in this winter scene around Bositeng Lake in China’s Xinjiang region.
Published Apr 7, 2024
Greenness is an important indicator of health for forests, grasslands, and farms. The greenness of a landscape, or vegetation index, depends on the number and type of plants, how leafy they are, and how healthy they are.
What do you do when presented with a new satellite image? Here's what the Earth Observatory team does to understand the view.
Published Nov 18, 2013
Signs of structural weaknesses may signal a shift in this Antarctic ice shelf’s stability.
Published Apr 6, 2024
Strong winds that race across Lago Colhué Huapi have exposed ancient artifacts amid the dusty surface.
Published Apr 4, 2024
12 months of high-resolution global true color satellite imagery.
Published Oct 13, 2005
The latest fissure eruption on Iceland’s Reykjanes peninsula was the largest of four recent bouts of activity near the town of Grindavík.
Published Apr 3, 2024
Have you ever wondered what it would be like to live in a different part of the world? What would the weather be like? What kinds of animals would you see? Which plants live there? By investigating these questions, you are learning about biomes.
Published Aug 28, 2020
Satellite images of Earth at night have been a curiosity for the public and a tool of fundamental research for at least 25 years. They have provided a broad, beautiful picture, showing how humans have shaped the planet and lit up the darkness.
Published Apr 12, 2017
NASA satellites document how our world—forests, oceans, human landscapes, even the Sun—changes over months, seasons, and years.
Published Apr 29, 2009
More than 100 active fires burned across the country in late-March 2024, including this blaze near the border of Oaxaca and Chiapas.
Published Apr 2, 2024
Warmer-than-average temperatures are showing up locally and globally, with consequences for people, landscapes, and ecosystems.
Published Aug 15, 2023
Net radiation is the balance between incoming and outgoing energy at the top of the atmosphere. It is the total energy available to influence climate after light and heat are reflected, absorbed, or emitted by clouds and land.
In addition to making rain and snow, clouds can have a warming or cooling influence depending on their altitude, type, and when they form. These maps show what fraction of an area was cloudy each month.
These maps depict how much hotter or cooler an ocean basin was compared to the long-term average. Temperature anomalies can indicate changes in ocean circulation or the arrival of patterns like El Niño and La Niña.
Ocean temperatures can influence weather, such as hurricane formation, and climate patterns, such as El Niño. These maps show the temperature at the surface of the world’s seas and oceans.
Chlorophyll is used by algae and other phytoplankton--the grass of the sea--to convert sunlight and carbon dioxide into sugars. These maps show chlorophyll concentrations in the ocean, revealing where phytoplankton are thriving.
The 2023 season runs from June 1 to November 30, with peak activity generally occurring in September.
Published Jun 1, 2023
Wildland fires in 2023 brought hazy skies and poor air quality to several countries north of the equator.
Published May 22, 2023
From soil conditions to crop productivity, satellite data help inform farmers, scientists, and decision-makers in the U.S. and around the world.
Published Feb 28, 2023
Over the years, astronauts aboard the orbiting laboratory have snapped spectacular photographs of Earth’s snow and ice in both hemispheres.
Published Dec 21, 2022
In honor of our site anniversary, we offer a selection of some of the most beautiful, newsworthy, interesting, and scientifically important images from 23 years online — one image for each day of the calendar year.
Published Apr 26, 2022
