Since 1999, Earth Observatory has published images and stories from all over our planet. Now you can explore more than 11,000 images in a different way: by location.
After slow-moving lava flows bulldozed their way down the volcanic peak for months, parts of the island now look more like a moonscape than a tropical paradise.
This Arizona national park was founded to protect the saguaro cactus, a keystone species of the Sonoran Desert and an iconic symbol of the Southwest, where the climate is becoming warmer and drier.
Published Dec 28, 2021
Through the use of remotely sensed data, scientists were able to understand the mysterious deaths of caribou in Canada and reindeer in the Bering Sea islands.
Published Dec 27, 2021
The Libyan Desert is often cited as a Mars analogue.
Published Dec 26, 2021
Reindeer, indigenous people, and modern meteorology converge in a winter scene from Scandinavia.
Published Dec 25, 2021Image of the Day Atmosphere Land Human Presence Snow and Ice Remote Sensing
Herd migration remains mostly an “unexplained and unexplainable mystery.”
Published Dec 24, 2021
Herding could help curb Arctic greening and shrubification caused by climate change.
Published Dec 23, 2021
While efforts to raise domesticated reindeer on the island failed, herds of wild reindeer prosper in East Iceland.
Published Dec 22, 2021
Can you figure out where and what this is on Earth?
Published Dec 21, 2021
12 months of high-resolution global true color satellite imagery.
Published Oct 13, 2005
Three extreme rainy seasons in a row have pushed rivers and wetlands to heights not seen in decades.
Published Dec 20, 2021
South America’s second-longest river forms part of the border between Argentina and Paraguay.
Published Dec 19, 2021
Launched on Earth Day in 1995, the program connects scientists, teachers and students in 126 countries with hands-on scientific activities.
Published Dec 17, 2021
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
These maps depict monthly total rainfall around the world. Rainfall is the primary source of fresh water for humans, plants, and animals. Rain also moves heat between the atmosphere, oceans, and land.
Locally named Odette, the storm was one of the strongest recorded on Earth this year and the sixth to reach category 5.
Published Dec 16, 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
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.
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
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.
Hurricane-force winds, dust storms, tornadoes, wildfires, snow squalls, heavy rain, and record-breaking heat accompanied an unusual December storm system.
Published Dec 16, 2021Image of the Day Atmosphere Land Severe Storms Remote Sensing
Tornadoes and severe winds knocked out power to Mayfield and surrounding towns.
Published Dec 15, 2021
A project developed by community college students is providing the opportunity for the public to see Earth from the perspective of a small rocket in flight.
Published Dec 10, 2021
As green chlorophyll fades from trees and plants each autumn, other pigments color the Earth’s landscapes. Satellites take leaf-peeping to a whole new level.
Published Oct 26, 2021
These maps show the ‘metabolism” of Earth’s plants and trees. Net primary productivity is the difference between the amount of carbon dioxide absorbed during photosynthesis minus the amount released by respiration.
50 Years. 9 million scenes. One champion.
Published Sep 7, 2021
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.
NASA satellites document how our world—forests, oceans, human landscapes, even the Sun—changes over months, seasons, and years.
Published Apr 29, 2009
Summer is beach season in the northern hemisphere. But even if you're a regular at your local swimming hole, you probably haven't seen too many beaches from this perspective. See the satellite and space-station views of various shorelines from across the United States. No sunblock necessary.
Published Jul 22, 2021
Clouds can be a nuisance when scientists are trying to observe features on Earth's surface. But at other times, clouds are exactly what they want to see. These images highlight some of the more unusual and beautiful clouds observed in recent years from space.
Published Jun 21, 2021
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.
NASA has a unique vantage point for observing the beauty and wonder of Earth and for making sense of it. The images in this book tell a story of a 4.5-billion-year-old planet where there is always something new to see.
Published Apr 28, 2021
