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In addition to their scientific value, many satellite images are simply intriguing to look at. Satellites capture an incredible variety of views of Earth. See the mesmerizing beauty of river deltas, mountains, and other sandy, salty, and icy landscapes.
A view of all 50 states from space. The images combine multiple Landsat scenes to showcase each state’s unique landscapes, from expansive forests and arid deserts to bustling cities and serene coastlines.
Watch Landsat Science Team members and researchers from around the world talk about the value of remotely sensed imagery to monitoring the health of the planet.
Annual National Land Cover Database (NLCD) Collection 1.2 map of 2025 data, produced at USGS Earth Resources Observation and Science (EROS) Center based on Landsat satellite data.
Annual National Land Cover Database (NLCD) Collection 1.2 map of 2025 data, produced at USGS Earth Resources Observation and Science (EROS) Center based on Landsat satellite data.
Annual National Land Cover Database (NLCD) Collection 1.2 map of 2025 data, produced at USGS Earth Resources Observation and Science (EROS) Center based on Landsat satellite data.
Annual National Land Cover Database (NLCD) Collection 1.2 map of 2025 data, produced at USGS Earth Resources Observation and Science (EROS) Center based on Landsat satellite data.
The USGS Landsat archive holds over fifty years of Earth-Observing satellite data. This animation displays the cumulative number of Landsat scenes since 1972. The colors on the maps show the density of the number of Landsat Level-1 products.
The USGS Landsat archive holds over fifty years of Earth-Observing satellite data. This animation displays the cumulative number of Landsat scenes since 1972. The colors on the maps show the density of the number of Landsat Level-1 products.
Timeline of the Landsat program, beginning with the launch of Landsat 1 in 1972. Landsat 10 is expected to launch in 2031. As the tenth Landsat mission, it will continue the legacy of the Landsat program.
Visit the Landsat Missions webpage to learn more.
Timeline of the Landsat program, beginning with the launch of Landsat 1 in 1972. Landsat 10 is expected to launch in 2031. As the tenth Landsat mission, it will continue the legacy of the Landsat program.
Visit the Landsat Missions webpage to learn more.
A new Worldwide Reference System, WRS-3, was developed for Landsat 10 due to the change in orbital parameters. The WRS-3 will provide a method to acquire, index, and catalog Landsat 10 scenes.
A new Worldwide Reference System, WRS-3, was developed for Landsat 10 due to the change in orbital parameters. The WRS-3 will provide a method to acquire, index, and catalog Landsat 10 scenes.
In a September 21, 1966 press release, Secretary of the Interior Stewart Udall announced that the DOI was launching "Project EROS (Earth Resources Observation Satellites)." Udall's vision was to observe the Earth for the benefit of all.
In a September 21, 1966 press release, Secretary of the Interior Stewart Udall announced that the DOI was launching "Project EROS (Earth Resources Observation Satellites)." Udall's vision was to observe the Earth for the benefit of all.
This video is a demonstration of the EVA Tool. It was conducted during the January 20, 2026 webinar. To watch the full webinar please visit: https://www.usgs.gov/media/videos/visualizing-land-cover-mrlc-tools.
This video is a demonstration of the EVA Tool. It was conducted during the January 20, 2026 webinar. To watch the full webinar please visit: https://www.usgs.gov/media/videos/visualizing-land-cover-mrlc-tools.
The Joint Agency Commercial Imagery Evaluation, better known as JACIE, was created to bring together the strengths of multiple Federal agencies.
Its mission is simple, yet essential, to evaluate remote sensing data, and share those insights with the entire remote sensing community.
The Joint Agency Commercial Imagery Evaluation, better known as JACIE, was created to bring together the strengths of multiple Federal agencies.
Its mission is simple, yet essential, to evaluate remote sensing data, and share those insights with the entire remote sensing community.
This video is a recording of a previous webinar entitled: “Landsat Special Requests: Expanding Acquisition Capabilities”. This webinar was recorded on April 16, 2026.
This video is a recording of a previous webinar entitled: “Landsat Special Requests: Expanding Acquisition Capabilities”. This webinar was recorded on April 16, 2026.
This video is a recording of a previous webinar entitled: “Introducing ASTER Version 4: What’s New in Data Access, Products, Formats, and How to Unlock the ASTER Cloud Archive”. This webinar was recorded on April 2, 2026.
This video is a recording of a previous webinar entitled: “Introducing ASTER Version 4: What’s New in Data Access, Products, Formats, and How to Unlock the ASTER Cloud Archive”. This webinar was recorded on April 2, 2026.
Can you guess the locations of these mystery Landsat images?
Landsat satellites capture images of the Earth’s surface and help scientists study resource management, investigate land surface change, and support disaster response.
Can you guess the locations of these mystery Landsat images?
Landsat satellites capture images of the Earth’s surface and help scientists study resource management, investigate land surface change, and support disaster response.
This video is a demonstration of the MRLC National Land Cover Database (NLCD) Viewer tool. It was conducted during the January 20, 2026 webinar.
This video is a demonstration of the MRLC National Land Cover Database (NLCD) Viewer tool. It was conducted during the January 20, 2026 webinar.
The Yellowstone National Park area has more than 10,000 thermal features. And while Old Faithful is a pretty predictable geyser, some thermal features can change quite a bit. New ones can even pop up! Remote sensing provides a tool for monitoring them—especially the thermal infrared sensors (TIRS) on Landsat 8 and Landsat 9 satellites.
The Yellowstone National Park area has more than 10,000 thermal features. And while Old Faithful is a pretty predictable geyser, some thermal features can change quite a bit. New ones can even pop up! Remote sensing provides a tool for monitoring them—especially the thermal infrared sensors (TIRS) on Landsat 8 and Landsat 9 satellites.
Landsat has been accurate and reliable for over 50 years because of the diligent calibration and validation work done by the team at EROS. One of the ways the team validates what they have so carefully calibrated is to take measurements on the ground while Landsat passes by overhead.
Landsat has been accurate and reliable for over 50 years because of the diligent calibration and validation work done by the team at EROS. One of the ways the team validates what they have so carefully calibrated is to take measurements on the ground while Landsat passes by overhead.
Exotic annual grasses, or EAGs, are invasive species. They outcompete native grasses. They are extremely flammable. And they are expanding into higher elevations. Targeted sheep grazing is one way to combat these invasive grasses, manage fire risk, and help restore native sagebrush in western states.
Exotic annual grasses, or EAGs, are invasive species. They outcompete native grasses. They are extremely flammable. And they are expanding into higher elevations. Targeted sheep grazing is one way to combat these invasive grasses, manage fire risk, and help restore native sagebrush in western states.
Landsat is the longest-running, continuously operating record of Earth observations, and it’s the gold standard reference point that other civil and commercial satellite programs trust.
Landsat is the longest-running, continuously operating record of Earth observations, and it’s the gold standard reference point that other civil and commercial satellite programs trust.
Declassified spy satellite imagery, distributed by the USGS EROS Center, is finding fascinating uses since being made available to the public starting in the 1990s.
Declassified spy satellite imagery, distributed by the USGS EROS Center, is finding fascinating uses since being made available to the public starting in the 1990s.
Eyes on Earth tackles artificial intelligence (AI) in a 2-part episode. AI is quickly becoming a necessary part of geospatial work at EROS, helping us efficiently do science to better manage our world. In Part 1, we talked about AI’s current and upcoming impact on our work at EROS and clarified some of the AI jargon.
Eyes on Earth tackles artificial intelligence (AI) in a 2-part episode. AI is quickly becoming a necessary part of geospatial work at EROS, helping us efficiently do science to better manage our world. In Part 1, we talked about AI’s current and upcoming impact on our work at EROS and clarified some of the AI jargon.
