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.
Nearly 85 percent of Mexico is experiencing drought, and water sources are dwindling.
Image of the Day Land Water Drought Human Presence Remote Sensing Temperature Extremes
Before it is wiped away by spring melting, sea ice in the northern Baltic Sea displays some compelling patterns.
Published May 4, 2021
Using satellites, scientists are starting to better understand the specific sources of urban light pollution.
Published May 3, 2021
The coast of the tropical Africa nation is shaped by a confluence of rivers, lagoons, and bays.
Published May 2, 2021
With its rocky terrain, mountain caves, and beautiful beaches, Hingol National Park is one of the natural wonders of Pakistan.
Published May 1, 2021
Researchers work to map shallow waters with freely available data and cloud computing.
Published Apr 30, 2021
Explore how wildfire smoke travels in our sky and find out how NASA satellites track it in "Smoky Skies and Satellites." Plus, create your own data visualization.
Published Apr 29, 2021 in EO Kids
Following several explosive eruptions on the Caribbean island of Saint Vincent, volcanic ash poses myriad hazards in the air and on the ground.
Published Apr 28, 2021Image of the Day Atmosphere Land Volcanoes Human Presence Remote Sensing
Numerous fires have filled skies with smoke, causing air quality issues in Omsk.
Published Apr 28, 2021
The landscape of the Quilian Mountains exhibits layer upon layer of spectacularly colorful rocks.
Published Apr 28, 2021
Researchers are using ICESat-2 elevation data to create bathymetry maps of shallow lakes in the remote desert.
Published Apr 27, 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.
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.
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.
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.
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
When fuels such as coal, wood, and oil burn incompletely, they produce carbon monoxide. The gas is spread by winds and circulation. These maps show monthly averages of CO in the lower atmosphere.
Earth observation technologies are revolutionizing global agri-food systems.
Published Apr 26, 2021 in Notes From the Field
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
The Bay Area has several famous landmarks that stand out from the Space Station.
Published Apr 25, 2021
12 months of high-resolution global true color satellite imagery.
Published Oct 13, 2005
After months of snow cover, the region is shedding its winter coat.
Published Apr 24, 2021
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.
Many farmers in northeastern China and eastern Russia use fire to clear fields and get them ready for planting.
Published Apr 23, 2021Image of the Day Atmosphere Land Fires Human Presence Remote Sensing
Take a tree height observation on a smartphone, write a tree poem, and share stories about trees that are special to you on social media as part of the challenge.
Published Apr 21, 2021 in Earth Matters
A photo of one of the world's largest alkaline lakes handily won the crown.
Published Apr 15, 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
Click to see the 2021 champion.
Published Mar 8, 2021
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.
Published Feb 8, 2021
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
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
