For 20 years, astronauts have been shooting photos of Earth from the space station. Like everything the astronauts do, they are trained for this job. And like everything they do, there is purpose and intention behind it.
Less than a month after a destructive storm in January, another tropical cyclone aims at the East African nation.
The modern oasis of Jubbah sits within the wind shadow of historic mountains and the basin of an ancient lakebed.
Published Mar 2, 2021
The contrast of the bright lights against the dark landscape makes this a favorite astronaut photo.
Published Feb 28, 2021
Astronauts have snapped numerous photos of the light show from their unique perch on the International Space Station.
Published Feb 27, 2021
In the past 35 years, one third of large rivers in the United States have changed their dominant color, often due to sediments or algae.
Published Feb 26, 2021
Intense lava fountains and lava flows illuminated a volcanic plume spreading across Sicily during an unusually pitched night of activity at the Italian volcano.
Published Feb 25, 2021Image of the Day Atmosphere Land Volcanoes Human Presence Remote Sensing
A range of unusual plants and wildlife lives in the Harenna Forest, but they face pressure from development.
Published Feb 24, 2021
The torrent of debris from a mountain in the Himalaya devastated remote valleys in Uttarakhand.
Published Feb 23, 2021Image of the Day Land Human Presence Snow and Ice Remote Sensing Landslides
Researchers are puzzling over a distinctive striping pattern in the Central Siberian Plateau.
Published Feb 23, 2021
Large numbers of deforestation-related fires burned in the Amazon rainforest, while uncontrolled wildfires blazed in savanna and grassland ecosystems in central Brazil, Bolivia, and Paraguay.
Published Feb 22, 2021
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.
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
Photographing an ongoing volcanic eruption anywhere on Earth is a matter of luck for most astronauts, but Kamchatka provides its share of opportunities.
Published Feb 21, 2021
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
Scientists used a ground-based network and models to detect global and regional fluctuations in CFC-11 emissions to the atmosphere.
Published Feb 19, 2021
A substantial dust plume drifted over the Atlantic Ocean, with some of the airborne grains steering toward the northeast.
Published Feb 18, 2021
By studying Lake Salda, researchers gained a better understanding of the potential microbial and geological processes at Jezero Crater.
Published Feb 17, 2021 in Earth Matters
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.
Every month we offer a puzzling satellite image. Your challenge is to tell us what we are looking at, where it is, and why it is interesting.
Published Feb 16, 2021 in Earth Matters
Land surface temperatures rise and fall with the heat of the Sun, and they represent how hot or cold the surface would feel to touch. These maps show daytime land temperatures as measured from space.
Every year, a group of scientists affiliated with the Global Carbon Project give Earth something like an annual checkup.
Published Feb 11, 2021 in Earth Matters
Learn all about how satellites track storms – from formation, landfall, and the aftermath
Published Feb 11, 2021 in EO Kids
These maps show the average amount of water vapor in a column of atmosphere by month. Water vapor is the key precursor for rain and snow and one of the most important greenhouse gases in the atmosphere.
More than 1,000 astronaut photos have been published on EO. Help us choose the best in our archives.
Published Feb 6, 2021 in Earth Matters
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
12 months of high-resolution global true color satellite imagery.
Published Oct 13, 2005
Fifty years ago, the Apollo astronauts carried some souvenirs from Earth to the Moon, and then brought them back.
Published Feb 2, 2021 in Earth Matters
From their perch on the space station, astronauts have spent 20 years sharing a story about Earth as they see it from above. Like the directors of a film, those astronaut storytellers have a crew working behind the scenes to help them tell the story. Meet the Earth Science and Remote Sensing Unit.
Published Dec 1, 2020
From their home on the International Space Station, astronauts have a view unlike anything most of us will ever see. Over 20 years, they have shot millions of photographs of Earth, and it is not just a hobby. It is an important scientific job, and one they need to be trained to do. Learn more about the challenges of watching Earth from above.
Published Nov 2, 2020
Snow and ice influence climate by reflecting sunlight back into space. When it melts, snow is a source of water for drinking and vegetation; too much snowmelt can lead to floods. These maps show average snow cover by month.
A race is on to figure out whether COVID-19 will wax and wane with the seasons. Atmospheric and hydrologic models produced by NASA and other institutions may be key to that research.
Published Jul 14, 2020
A few decades ago, the idea of predicting a disease outbreak via satellite was science fiction. But today, researchers can use environmental data to predict when and where some diseases are likely to spread.
Published Jul 9, 2020
NASA satellites and sensors constantly take the pulse of our planet. Researchers apply those observations on local and regional scales to better manage things like food and water supplies, health, safety, land use, and ecosystems.
Published May 1, 2020
