Seeing something from space is an ability so common we almost take it for granted. Headlines routinely play on the potential for objects or events to be visible from orbit. Smartphones make it possible to zoom in to your backyard in an instant. Satellite imagery is ubiquitous in the media. But all these scenarios have limitations. Common drawbacks include focusing on individual events or relying on imagery that is days, weeks, or even several years old.
What if you could see Earth—or any part of it—as it is today? Right now? Imagine being able to choose the day or even time. Or being able to navigate views of Earth from space collected by dozens of different satellites. And with each satellite, you might flick through images acquired by one of many sensors. You could track things like wildfires or aerosols in the atmosphere. You could observe changing land cover indices, sea surface temperatures, and iceberg positions. You could even explore city lights and auroras during the night.
These examples—and more—only scratch the surface of how the National Aeronautics and Space Administration’s (NASA) Worldview empowers its users. Worldview provides access to global, full-resolution satellite imagery in near real-time. It allows users to browse, customize, overlay, and download a wide range of imagery in a variety of formats.
The imagery in Worldview is made possible by the Global Imagery Browse Services (GIBS). At present, GIBS houses more than 1,000 visualized science products. Much of the imagery is available to view within 3.5 hours of collection by satellite. Worldview and GIBS are developed and hosted by NASA’s Earth Observing System Data and Information System (EOSDIS).
A single view of Earth from space is no small feat. Daily views are more impressive yet. And when those capabilities scale across hundreds of layers, opportunities and potential abound. Together, Worldview and GIBS unlock near real-time exploration of Earth at an unprecedented scale.
More to Explore
- Be sure to check out the Worldview Image of the Week.
- Learn how to use Worldview and browse curated stories.
- Incorporate web map services from GIBS in your own tools and websites.
