Green Forests and Dark Skies in Cephalonia
Image of the Day Dec 9, 2023

Green Forests and Dark Skies in Cephalonia

Aínos National Park on Greece’s largest Ionian island became a dark sky park in 2023.
A Dusting of Snow on Hawaii’s Tallest Peaks
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A Dusting of Snow on Hawaii’s Tallest Peaks

Snow lingered on Mauna Kea and Mauna Loa after a storm brought copious precipitation to the island chain.

Published Dec 6, 2023

Image of the Day Severe Storms Snow and Ice Temperature Extremes

Atmospheric River Flows into the Pacific Northwest
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Atmospheric River Flows into the Pacific Northwest

A warm, moisture-laden weather system soaked western Washington and Oregon.

Published Dec 5, 2023

Image of the Day Atmosphere Severe Storms Temperature Extremes

Michaung Drenches India’s Southeast Coast
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Michaung Drenches India’s Southeast Coast

The tropical cyclone caused widespread flooding and crop damage in the states of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana.

Published Dec 5, 2023

Image of the Day Severe Storms Human Presence

Unrest at Anak Krakatau
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Unrest at Anak Krakatau

This small, unimposing volcano between the Indonesian islands of Java and Sumatra has a destructive past. 

Published Dec 4, 2023

Image of the Day Heat Volcanoes

The Smoking Mountain
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The Smoking Mountain

Erta Ale, in the East African Rift, is Ethiopia’s most active volcano.

Published Dec 4, 2023

Image of the Day Heat

Coastal Somalia
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Coastal Somalia

Water-carved canyons and wind-sculpted dunes adorn the desert landscape.

Published Dec 3, 2023

Image of the Day Land Water

Flooding in Southern Brazil
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Flooding in Southern Brazil

Storms brought flooding to Rio Grande do Sul and Santa Catarina in November 2023, continuing a trend of wet weather in the region.

Published Dec 1, 2023

Image of the Day Land Floods

Antarctic Iceberg Sails Away
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Antarctic Iceberg Sails Away

Stuck on the seafloor for decades, Iceberg A-23A now freely drifts northward toward warmer, iceberg-destroying waters.

Published Dec 1, 2023

Image of the Day Snow and Ice

Blue Marble Next Generation
Article

Blue Marble Next Generation

12 months of high-resolution global true color satellite imagery.

Published Oct 13, 2005

Atmosphere Land Water Snow and Ice

Filling an Air Pollution Data Gap
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Filling an Air Pollution Data Gap

Many cities have shortages of air quality monitors. NASA scientists have developed a tool called GEOS-CF that can help.

Published Nov 30, 2023

Image of the Day Atmosphere Human Presence

Erebus Breaks Through
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Erebus Breaks Through

The fiery and icy upper reaches of the Antarctic volcano pierced through a canopy of clouds.

Published Nov 29, 2023

Image of the Day Snow and Ice

Vegetation
Global Maps Feb 2000 — Aug 2023

Vegetation

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.

Land Life

Net Radiation
Global Maps Jul 2006 — Jan 2023

Net Radiation

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.

Heat

Total Rainfall
Global Maps Jun 2000 — Jun 2023

Total Rainfall

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.

Atmosphere

Mission: Biomes
Article

Mission: Biomes

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

Land Life

Streak of Snow in the Midwest
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Streak of Snow in the Midwest

A winter storm plowed across several U.S. states after Thanksgiving.

Published Nov 27, 2023

Image of the Day Severe Storms Human Presence Temperature Extremes

Earth at Night
Article

Earth at Night

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

Atmosphere Land Human Presence Remote Sensing

November Puzzler
Earth Matters

November Puzzler

Your challenge is to tell us the location of the satellite image and why it is interesting.

Published Nov 20, 2023

Fire
Global Maps Mar 2000 — Aug 2023

Fire

Whether started by humans (farming, logging, or accidents) or by nature (lightning), fires are always burning somewhere on Earth. These maps show the locations of fires burning around the world each month.

Land

Aerosol Size
Global Maps Jan 2005 — Sep 2016

Aerosol Size

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.

Atmosphere

World of Change
Article

World of Change

NASA satellites document how our world—forests, oceans, human landscapes, even the Sun—changes over months, seasons, and years.

Published Apr 29, 2009

Atmosphere Heat Land Life Human Presence Snow and Ice

Temperature Extremes 2023
Article

Temperature Extremes 2023

Warmer-than-average temperatures are showing up locally and globally, with consequences for people, landscapes, and ecosystems.

Published Aug 15, 2023

Heat

North Atlantic Hurricane Season
Article

North Atlantic Hurricane Season

The 2023 season runs from June 1 to November 30, with peak activity generally occurring in September.

Published Jun 1, 2023

Atmosphere Remote Sensing

Fire Season in the Northern Hemisphere
Article

Fire Season in the Northern Hemisphere

Wildland fires in 2023 brought hazy skies and poor air quality to several countries north of the equator.

Published May 22, 2023

Atmosphere Land

How to Interpret a Satellite Image: Five Tips and Strategies
Article

How to Interpret a Satellite Image: Five Tips and Strategies

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

Remote Sensing

Food and Agriculture
Article

Food and Agriculture

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

Land

Winter from the International Space Station
Article

Winter from the International Space Station

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

Snow and Ice

EO On This Day
Article

EO On This Day

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

Atmosphere Heat Land Life Water Snow and Ice

Sea Surface Temperature
Global Maps Jul 2002 — Aug 2023

Sea Surface Temperature

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.

Heat Water