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.
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
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
Texas and other central states set records for cold temperatures during a persistent blast of arctic air.
Published Feb 16, 2021Image of the Day Atmosphere Land Severe Storms Human Presence Remote Sensing
The landscape has been transformed by the wettest rainy season since 2011.
Published Feb 16, 2021
In early February, fast solar winds brought beautiful northern lights to North America and Europe.
Published Feb 13, 2021
The many pieces of Antarctic iceberg A-68 continue to drift near South Georgia Island.
Published Feb 12, 2021
The fast-flowing river cuts through a snowy landscape as it flows toward Lake Ontario.
Published Feb 12, 2021
Spectacular patterns emerged as stormwater pooled on the salt crust of this ephemeral lake in Western Australia.
Published Feb 12, 2021Image of the Day Land Water Drought Fires Temperature Extremes
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.
12 months of high-resolution global true color satellite imagery.
Published Oct 13, 2005
A geologist’s dream, Gros Morne National Park is one of the few places where you can set foot on the Earth's mantle without digging an inch.
Published Feb 12, 2021
Sea salt, volcanic ash, dust, wildfire smoke, and industrial pollution are types of airborne aerosols. Natural aerosols tend to be larger than human-made aerosols. These maps show when and where aerosols come from nature, humans, or both.
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
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.
There are hundreds of thousands of oval depressions dotting the Atlantic coastal plain—relicts of a cooler, drier, windier time.
Published Feb 11, 2021
Cameras and sensors on the International Space Station have been helping scientists to characterize the natural light shows produced at the tops of thunderstorms.
Published Feb 10, 2021
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
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
Ten photos reveal the compelling features across this remote part of Canada’s Northwest Territories.
Published Jan 27, 2021 in Earth Matters
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.
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
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
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
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
