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Earth, observed
The Earth Observatory is a website run by NASA's Earth Observing System Project Science Office (EOSPSO). Bringing together imagery from many different satellites and astronaut missions, the website publishes fantastic images with highly detailed descriptions, feature articles and more. Gathered here are some standout photographs from the collections in the Earth Observatory over the past several years. For more images and information, please visit the Earth Observatory site itself. (23 photos total)
The Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) on NASA's Terra satellite captured this image of a dust storm as it swirled over China in April of 2001. A strong temperate cyclone spun counter-clockwise over China, pushing a wall of dust as it moved. The deep tan dust is not only thick enough to completely hide much of the land surface below, but it almost forms its own topography, with ridges of dust rising up below the clouds. The spiral arms of white cloud are approximately 200km wide. (NASA/Jesse Allen, Robert Simmon/MODIS science team)
The Bear Glacier on the Kenai Peninsula along the Gulf of Alaska seen by the IKONOS satellite took this on August 8, 2005. This image shows the ablation zone where the glacier is primarily losing ice. Upslope from the lake, the foot of the glacier is riddled with crevasses - cracks in the ice caused by the glacier's movement over a rough surface. Down the middle of the glacier run dark gray stripes. As a glacier moves, it picks up dirt and debris from the rocks it passes. When two glaciers merge, as they have here, the dirt and debris they carry form parallel stripes, or medial moraines, on the ice surface. (IKONOS satellite image courtesy GeoEye) #
South of Khartoum, Sudan, where the White and Blue Nile Rivers join, a dizzying arrangement of irrigated fields stretches out across the state of El Gezira. The several bare-looking patches are small villages. This image was captured by the Advanced Spaceborne Thermal Emission and Reflection Radiometer (ASTER) on NASA's Terra satellite on December 25, 2006. (NASA/GSFC/METI/ERSDAC/JAROS, U.S./Japan ASTER Science Team) #
Deep in the Sahara Desert lies this crater. Nearly a perfect circle, it is 1.9 kilometers (1.2 miles) wide, and sports a rim 100 meters (330 feet) high. The crater sits in a vast plain of rocks so ancient they were deposited hundreds of millions of years before the first dinosaurs walked the Earth. Modern geologists long debated what caused this crater, some of them favoring a volcano. But closer examination of the structure revealed that the crater's hardened "lava" was actually rock that had melted from a meteorite impact. Advanced Spaceborne Thermal Emission and Reflection Radiometer (ASTER) on NASA's Terra satellite captured this image of Tenoumer Crater in Mauritania on January 24, 2008. (NASA,Jesse Allen, NASA/GSFC/METI/ERSDAC/JAROS, U.S./Japan ASTER Science Team) #
Cloudless skies allowed a clear view of Tibet in mid-December 2008. The Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) flying onboard NASA's Terra satellite captured this true-color, image on December 18, 2008. Snow caps some mountain peaks, and ice partially covers some lakes in this high-altitude region, nicknamed the "Roof of the World." (NASA/Jeff Schmaltz, MODIS Rapid Response Team, Goddard Space Flight Center) #
Sidi Toui National Park, in the southern half of Tunisia, close to the Libyan border, viewed by the Enhanced Thematic Mapper Plus (ETM+) instrument on NASA's Landsat 7 satellite on December 13, 1999. Native vegetation can be seen returning inside the borders of this protected park (approx. 7 kilometers wide), established in 1993 to protect the region against desertification. The effects of continued agriculture, overgrazing and drought can be seen on the surrounding arid landscape. (NASA/Jesse Allen/Landsat,USGS) #
Even the most snow-covered place on Earth has patches of snow-free ground. In Antarctica, a series of parallel valleys lie between the Ross Sea and the East Antarctic Ice Sheet. Known as the Dry Valleys, they are swept free of snow by nearly relentless katabatic winds - cold, dry air that rolls downhill toward the sea from the high altitudes of the ice sheet. The Dry Valleys harbor a collection of glaciers and ice-covered lakes. This false-color image was captured by the Advanced Spaceborne Thermal Emission and Reflection Radiometer (ASTER) on NASA's Terra satellite on November 29, 2000. (NASA/Jesse Allen, NASA/GSFC/METI/ERSDAC/JAROS, U.S./Japan ASTER Science Team) #
Roughly 480 by 320 kilometers, Dasht-e Lut is a large salt desert in southeastern Iran. This natural-color image, captured by the ASTER on NASA's Terra satellite shows part of the southeastern portion of Dasht-e Lut on May 13, 2006. This area consists of sand, and it contains some of the world's tallest dunes, some reaching a height of 300 meters (1,000 feet). 9NASA/Jesse Allen, Earth Observatory, NASA/GSFC/MITI/ERSDAC/JAROS, U.S./Japan ASTER Science Team) #
During the last ice age, Canada's Akimiski Island was buried under several thousand meters of ice, but since its retreat, the island has rebounded (risen in elevation) and new beach areas have emerged, streams and lakes have formed, and trees and other vegetation have colonized the new territory. This image of Akimiski Island was captured by the Landsat 7 satellite on August 9, 2000. (NASA/Jesse Allen, Landsat,University of Maryland's Global Land Cover Facility) #
Steep Antarctic mountains channel the flowing ice sheet into a fast-moving river of ice named Byrd Glacier located near McMurdo Station, the principal U.S. Antarctic Research Base. The glacier plunges through a deep, 15-mile-wide valley in the Transatlantic Mountains to create a 100-mile-long, rock-floored ice stream. This image, captured by the Landsat 7 satellite on December 24, 1999, shows part of the Byrd Glacier flowing through the Transatlantic Mountains. (Jesse Allen, Landsat Image Mosaic of Antarctica,LIMA) #
The Arabian Peninsula's Empty Quarter, known as Rub' al Khali, is the world's largest sand sea, holding about half as much sand as the Sahara Desert. The Empty Quarter covers 583,000 square kilometers (225,000 square miles), and stretches over parts of Saudi Arabia, Yemen, Oman, and the United Arab Emirates. The Enhanced Thematic Mapper on NASA's Landsat 7 satellite captured this image of the Empty Quarter on August 26, 2001. (NASA/Robert Simmon, Landsat,USGS) #
In mid-December 2005, the diminutive Amsterdam Island made waves - not in the Indian Ocean where it resides, but in the clouds overhead. The MODIS instrument aboard NASA's Terra satellite captured this image on December 19, 2005. The island itself is almost too small see in this image, but it serves as the starting point for the clouds that flow toward the northeast in a giant V shape. (NASA/Jeff Schmaltz, MODIS Land Rapid Response Team at NASA GSFC) #
This highly detailed image from the Taiwanese Formosat-2 satellite shows the different sizes, shapes, and textures of ice fragments from an ice shelf on the Antarctic Peninsula on March 8, 2008. Several large icebergs float amid a mosaic of smaller pieces of ice. The level of detail in the image is so great that it can seem as though you are standing over a scale model made out of papier-mâché and foam blocks. The detail can make the bergs seem deceptively small. In reality, some of the large bergs are several hundred meters (yards) long. (Formosat image © 2008 Dr. Cheng-Chien Liu, National Cheng-Kung University and Dr. An-Ming Wu, National Space Organization, Taiwan) #
This simulated natural-color image of southeastern Fars province in southern Iran shows a dry river channel carving through arid mountains toward the northeast. A broad belt of lush agricultural land follows the curve of the alluvial fan and stretches out along a road that runs parallel to the ridgeline. The valley-ward margin of the intensely green agricultural belt fades to dull green along streams (or irrigation canals). The image was captured by the Advanced Spaceborne Thermal Emission and Reflection Radiometer (ASTER) on NASA's Terra satellite on October 12, 2004. (NASA/Jesse Allen, NASA/GSFC/METI/ERSDAC/JAROS, U.S./Japan ASTER Science Team) #
This image of forest in the northern Republic of Congo was captured on June 27, 2002, by the commercial satellite Ikonos. Dirt logging roads (orange lines) cross the center of the image. This image is one of hundreds of satellite images from commercial and NASA satellites that scientists from the Woods Hole Research Center used to create a map of logging roads and forest disturbance across 4 million square kilometers of tropical African forests in the three decades proceeding 2003. (NASA /Jesse Allen, IKONOS, Nadine Laporte, Woods Hole Research Center) #
Harrat Khaybar in Saudi Arabia contains a wide range of volcanic rock types and spectacular landforms, several of which are represented in this photograph taken by an astronaut abourd the International Space Station on March 31, 2008. Jabal ("mountain" in Arabic) al Qidr is built from several generations of dark, fluid basalt lava flows. Jabal Abyad, in the center of the image, was formed from a more viscous, silica-rich lava classified as a rhyolite. (NASA-JSC) #
Two-toned dust plumes blew northward off the coast of Libya on October 26, 2007, as the MODIS instrument on NASA's Terra satellite took this picture. While plumes in the west are beige, reminiscent of the Sahara's sands, the plumes in the east are distinctly darker. (NASA/Jeff Schmaltz, MODIS Rapid Response Team, NASA-Goddard Space Flight Center) #
When Mount St. Helens erupted on May 18, 1980, the north face of the mountain collapsed, and a massive avalanche of rock, mud, and volcanic debris thundered down the mountain. this photograph, taken on October 28, 2008 by an astronaut aboard the International Space Station shows the scene nearly three decades after the eruption - the impact on the forest in the blast zone still obvious. South of the mountain, lush green forests cover the landscape, while north of the mountain, vegetation remains sparse, particularly on higher elevations. (NASA/JSC) #
The setting sun glints off the Amazon River and numerous lakes in its floodplain in this astronaut photograph from August 19, 2008. About 150 kilometers of the Amazon is shown here, about 1,000 kilometers inland from the Atlantic Ocean. This image was acquired on August 19, 2008 by the by the Expedition 17 crew of the International Space Station. (NASA/JSC) #
More links and information
Earth Observatory - NASA website
This blogger might want to review your comment before posting it.
What breathtaking images!
Yawn, must we always devolve into pointless debates about religion?
"the only angry ones is the Athiests?"
I would be thrilled if God would drop us a comment here, perhaps to clear up his/her nature, his/her future intentions for the planet we see here, and to let us know whether televangelists, tithes, and offering plates are a good investment for sincere people's hard earned money!
Please God, I pray sincerely for you to post a reply!
In my 82 yrs. I have witnessed much beauty on the north American contenant, and your pictures from space show me there is so much more to see and do. I'm so thankful that we have people with the ability to acquire the pictures that we can see the wonders that technolegy has made available for all to enjoy. Keep up this type of educating the people of the world. Thank you. Cy, from Las Vegas, NV
Just goes to show you... Big Brother is watching you.
I don't understand why the evolutionists get so upset because Christians believe in a Creator God. Do they feel threatened by our beliefs? If so, why?
A true Christian respects your choice to not believe, why don't you respect our choice to believe? Can't we disagree without being disagreeable?
I'd rather live my life believing there is a God, then die to find there is not,
than to live as though there is not a God, and die to discover there really is.
"Who discovers the World discovers a carcass. Of him is the world not worthy." Jesus Christ (Gospel of St. Thomas)
The pictures are incredible. What interests me, however, are the comments. Does anyone see a "meanness" and an "arrogance" in the comments of those who don't believe in God? Reading these makes me glad to know I am on the side of the believers.
He said " When you see a cloud rising in the west you say immediately that it is going to rain --- and so it does; and when you notice that the wind is blowing from the south you say that it is going to be hot --- and so it is. You hypocrites! You know how to interpret the appearance of the earth and the sky; why do you not know how to interpret the present time? Luke,13 54 -56 Thanks for sharing it gives one pause for reflection.
I WANT TO SEE IT HIS NATURE BY MY EYES ITS OSAM GOD IS REALLY GREAT PS GOD I HAVE TO SEE THIS NATURE AMEEN IAM SHOCKED TO SEE THIS THING AND GOOD WORK BY YOU YOU HAVE DONE A GREAT JOB
This was one of the most beautiful displays of photography I have ever seen
There cant be one almighty regulating all this and much more in universe!! one panel of gods is minimum required that too with periodic rests and long leaves!!!This is what occurs to a humble soul like me!! not seen any ads of leave vacancy!!
psychodelic drugs are nothing compare to these observing!
-psychodelic satellite
What is is it about the God fanatics that they don't feel complete unless they have forced others who don't believe to read their fervent declarations about their faith?
Given that there is not one shred of provable evidence for the existence of God, why do they so fervently cling to an unprovable belief system? Is it simply that they need an external locus of control, rather than take responsibility for their actions and accept that one's existence ends forever with death?
Breathtaking images! where would we be without the technology to view our beautiful earth from above.
Thankyou
cool
awesome
it is amazing what mother nature has created through billions of years,
lets preserve it for generations to come to enjoy .thank you for the images you have brought us ,they need to be shown on a greater scale for all to see ,maybe we will all realise what a treasure we have.
what do these pictures involve with seasons?
what a super pictures!its really so nice...
Oh here we go again, someone posts images of the world on the Internet and it (of course) descends into another evolution vs. creation mud slinging contest.
Creationalists: you are entitled to your opinions and beliefs, but to those of you who insist on using these blogs as platforms to preach to the rest of us please do us all a favour crawl back into the cave in which you came from, your fairy tale bible brainwashed rants are ridiculous and annoying. Hopefully mankind will move on one day!
Oh and of course my regards to Mr Darwin on his bicentennial year, I'm sure he would have loved these images as much as the rest of us, they are truly spectacular.
nice picture. i never saw one picture like this before.
haha i totally forgot the pics when reading the dialogue. each side has valid points. its interesting to here
but i think we all want peace so why can't we just let things be. lets not try to convert each other just believe wut you want and then everyone can move on
and i mean that for both sides.
don't u agree?
Amen...molliew38! God is great. Let us thank him for this day, these pictures and everlasting eternity through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Brahma made a wonderful job of creating the world. How could anyone think otherwise?
ohhhhhhhhhhh my GOD
it's beautiful
it's sooooooooooooooo beautiful
Wow! Truely Awesome! Thank you for creating and sharing these photos.
All the bickering and name calling is sad to see, and it reminds me of a favorite piece of wisdom...from some "fairytale" book ;)
"Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things."
(Php 4:8 ESV)
Peace and Love everyone =)
Os céus e a terra declaram a Glória de Deus ^^'
The Creation does not ban the idea of Evoultion. They can coexist peacefully. Creation only states that all came at the from a Mind. Evolution has been partially observed, documented and fits inside of our cause-effect nature-of-thought; so it kind of says to u that all works that way. Where does a idea of a God interfere with Evolution, and more extensively science in general? Nowhere.
God is not a bearded, giant man. It's simply a Mind. Can you imagine the shape of intelligence? No. God is just spirit. And by spirit, don't think in a ghost or something esoteric. It is thought. Nature cannot communicate a message by itself. See the code of DNA. We can transmit information, yes; the DNA also. It gives commands. Even the most atheist scientist can confirm DNA uses a language. All in all, if we humans transmit information, it implies that the DNA has been made by an Intelligence. It could have been a man, yes. Then this superman would be everyone's god. But can you see him? No, we can only figure out that he was very very intelligent, we can only contemplate his mind through the tangible. Only an intelligence. So it comes back to the same.
This is not about religion or not religion. It's about the existance of God. Everyone, yes everyone of us have, just by one nanosecond for the less, been intrigued by the complexity if our World. Yes we evolved, there was a Big Bang. How come if this great progress and power of humanity is your god? Then there will always be one. I'm Christian and have come to the conclusion that negating God is impossible. Why we always debate about God in posts like this? Well as far as we are rational, it's impossible not to.
plant in house
wow!
Ha Ha, yes, these atheitsts do seem to be getting very hostile! I didn't notice in any of these comments anyone trying to convert anyone to God! it just goes to show how touchy they are! ...I used to be one of them but got fed up of living a shallow, unsatisfying, sad life and was open to the possiblity that maybe God was real. Thank-fully we have a God who not only created an unbelievably beautiful planet for us to live in but also loves us so much that He cannot resist communicating with ANYONE who dares to hope that He is out there and is prepared to ask Him to reveal Himself! I challenge you atheists reading this to try it!......
What a wonderfull world
It is a very good thing,
waw amazing really wonderfull
cool, amazing and breath taking. doesn't it make all of you feel small?
The pictures were amazing and I do believe that God has created this wonderful world because it shows His handy work all throughout it ,but I am not here to push it on other people. Enjoy the beauty and the wonder of this world.
There are uncountable wonders of the world.
Fantastico as fotos. Congratulations
Great site. Keep doing.,
breath-taking moments. :)
Thanks for post
AWSOMENESS!!!!!
thank for helping a brotha out dude!
Hey! Muchas gracias!
I want to say - thank you for this
Hope it will always be alive
It is the coolest site, keep so
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Thanks for the contibution!!!
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Thanks so much!
u r godsent dude.. THANKS
Great thank You !
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I congratulate, what words…, a magnificent idea!!!
Nice blog! Very interesting themes. I will allways read it. Also e-mailed on rss
Thank youuuuu!!! =)
Why can't we all just get along? Man is truly his own worst enemy.
Thanks for this!
COOL...!!!!
thanks you so much
BIG Thanks
really-really thanks!
Ive been looking for some of these forever. thanks!
Work unbeatable. It makes us become your admirer.
Thank you!
Thank you!
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Praise be to allah
Thanks
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Thanks!!
Thanks
I am fascinated by the photos of agriculture and housing. The sprawl of Las Vegas is so very inorganic compared to natural formations, and even human-run agriculture. Notice the lack of green or open space in the Vegas photo. Notice also the "collector roads" that make it next to impossible to walk anywhere. You must drive through a sea of houses to get a gallon of milk. Strange humans.
Good Job!!
Beautiful reminders that that each one of us has a responsibility to preserve, protect and cherish the Earth. Why post bickering points of view, simply accept it for what it is ... putting it into words changes it. Thank all of you for this view of the planet. posted by cw in Nashville
I will never understand the whole evolution vs. creation debate.
Why can't it be both? Why can't evolution be the master design that God set in place to harmonize plant and animal life with the natural growth of the living universe?
Why chastise someone for believing in the big bang? The universe had to start somehow and humans will always strive to understand that beginning. Maybe what God did can most easily be understood as a big bang.
If God created the universe then God created science. 'Nuff Said!
thx !
BEST MAAAAN :D THANK YOU
Thank you so much for this!
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ohhohoho~~ it's very bombardning best.
nice job men:)
Great site. Keep doing
Awesome!
Thx
ONE GOD A VERY BIG CREATION I AM PROUD TO BE A PERSON STANDING ON SUCH A BEAUTIFUL WORLD! :)
thank you soooooo much for this
AWESOME! Great job.
thx!. This one is great!!!
Thank you very much!
Regards!!
thanks a lot
Thanks so much! I've looked everywhere for this! You're amazing!
Thanx man =)
Totally Awsome!
Totally Awsome!
Thanks again!
thx!. This one is great!!!
Life sucks, cool pictures tho, no such thing as heaven or hell , we just
live then die , what god have you seen l8tly
It's spectacular, but tell me,please tell me, WHY can't we find the bad guys in Afghanistan, and other country's with that kind of technology!!! And save the rest of our beloved soldier's, AMEN!!
COOL........... THANK YOU VERY MUCH