Found along the Pacific Ring of Fire, Russia’s Shiveluch Volcano began erupting on April 11, 2023. Huge ash clouds spewed from the main crater blanketing over 40,000 square miles (108,000 square kilometers). The tiny village of Klyuchi, about 30 mi (50 km) from the volcano, plunged into darkness.
How can I find the acquisition time for a Landsat scene?
Landsat descending (daytime) acquisitions run from north to south; the satellites cross the equator at 10:12 a.m., +/- 5 minutes, local time on each pass. This timing provides the best sunlight for capturing images.
The acquisition start and end times for each image are listed in the metadata file included with the Landsat Level-1 product. These times also appear on EarthExplorer and GloVis. Landsat data collection times are recorded in Greenwich Mean Time (GMT).
Learn more:
- Landsat Acquisitions (acquisition schedules, calendars and additional information)
- Landsat Data Access
Related
Can Landsat satellite acquisition requests be made for a specific date and location? Can Landsat satellite acquisition requests be made for a specific date and location?
The Landsat 8 and Landsat 9 satellites together acquire approximately 1,500 scenes daily. These scenes are available for download within 6 hours of acquisition. Landsat satellite acquisitions are managed as a system, known as a satellite constellation. Long-Term Acquisition Plans (LTAPs) direct and optimize the daily acquisitions of each active Landsat satellite. Special requests for future...
What are the acquisition schedules for the Landsat satellites? What are the acquisition schedules for the Landsat satellites?
Landsat 8 and Landsat 9 orbit Earth at an altitude of 705 kilometers, or 438 miles. Each satellite captures images across a 185-kilometer, or 115-mile, swath. The satellites move from north to south over the sunlight side of Earth in a sun-synchronous orbit. Each satellite circles Earth every 99 minutes and completes about 14 orbits a day – and passes over the same location once every 16 days...
How do I search for and download ascending (nighttime) Landsat scenes? How do I search for and download ascending (nighttime) Landsat scenes?
Ascending (nighttime) WRS-2 path/row numbers are different from descending (daytime) path/rows. Cloud cover values for Landsat night scenes will always be -1. If you know the daytime path/row or coordinates and want to know the nighttime path/row, use the WRS-2 Path/Row to Latitude/Longitude Converter. Use EarthExplorer to search using path/row or coordinates: Access EarthExplorer. On the Search...
How do I search for and download Landsat data? How do I search for and download Landsat data?
Landsat data products held in the USGS archives can be searched and downloaded at no charge from a variety of sources. Visit Landsat Data Access for information about how Landsat data products can be downloaded individually or in bulk. Landsat imagery not found in the USGS archive might have been collected by one of the USGS International Cooperator ground stations, each of which are the primary...
Are there any restrictions on the use or redistribution of Landsat data? Are there any restrictions on the use or redistribution of Landsat data?
There are no restrictions on Landsat data downloaded from the USGS; it can be used or redistributed as desired. We do request that you include a statement of the data source when citing, copying, or reprinting USGS Landsat data or images. Details are on the EROS Data Citation page. Learn more: USGS Copyrights and Credits statement
What are the best Landsat spectral bands for use in my research? What are the best Landsat spectral bands for use in my research?
The Spectral Characteristics Viewer is an interactive tool that can be used to visualize how the bands, or channels, of different satellite sensors measure the intensity of the many wavelengths (colors) of light. This is also known as the relative spectral response (RSR). By overlaying the spectral curves from different features (spectra), one can determine which bands of the selected sensor will...
How does data from Sentinel-2A’s MultiSpectral Instrument compare to Landsat data? How does data from Sentinel-2A’s MultiSpectral Instrument compare to Landsat data?
The Sentinel-2A MultiSpectral Instrument (MSI) data has spectral bands very similar to Landsat 8 and 9 (excluding the thermal bands of Thermal Infrared Sensor (TIRS)). All Sentinel-2 data are freely available from the Copernicus Open Access Hub; therefore, users are encouraged to download the data via https://dataspace.copernicus.eu/explore-data/data-collections/sentinel-…. To learn...
Landsat 9 Image of Shiveluch Volcano
Found along the Pacific Ring of Fire, Russia’s Shiveluch Volcano began erupting on April 11, 2023. Huge ash clouds spewed from the main crater blanketing over 40,000 square miles (108,000 square kilometers). The tiny village of Klyuchi, about 30 mi (50 km) from the volcano, plunged into darkness.
Landsat 8 Image of Lake St. Clair
Landsat captured the tug of war between winter and spring on the heart-shaped Lake St. Clair along the U.S./Canadian border near Detroit.
This Landsat 8 image was acquired on March 6, 2021 and is shown as a natural color composite.
Learn more about the Landsat program at www.usgs.gov/landsat
Landsat captured the tug of war between winter and spring on the heart-shaped Lake St. Clair along the U.S./Canadian border near Detroit.
This Landsat 8 image was acquired on March 6, 2021 and is shown as a natural color composite.
Learn more about the Landsat program at www.usgs.gov/landsat
Landsat in Action - The Accuracy of Landsat with Jeff Masek
Landsat in Action - The Accuracy of Landsat with Jeff MasekLandsat 9 Project Scientist Jeff Masek discusses the ways Landsat data is used and how important it is to have high quality data.
Landsat in Action - The Accuracy of Landsat with Jeff Masek
Landsat in Action - The Accuracy of Landsat with Jeff MasekLandsat 9 Project Scientist Jeff Masek discusses the ways Landsat data is used and how important it is to have high quality data.
Landsat in Action - The Importance of Landsat with Curtis Woodcock
Landsat in Action - The Importance of Landsat with Curtis WoodcockBoston University Professor Curtis Woodcock talks about the significance Landsat was had in science and what he hopes to see as the mission continues.
Landsat in Action - The Importance of Landsat with Curtis Woodcock
Landsat in Action - The Importance of Landsat with Curtis WoodcockBoston University Professor Curtis Woodcock talks about the significance Landsat was had in science and what he hopes to see as the mission continues.
Landsat Collections
Landsat Collections: Providing a Stable Environmental Record for Time Series Analysis
Landsat Collections: Providing a Stable Environmental Record for Time Series Analysis
Landsat Collections — What are Tiers?
This is the third video in a series describing the new U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Landsat Collection 1 inventory structure. Collection 1 required the reprocessing of all archived Landsat data to achieve radiometric and geometric consistency of Level-1 products through time and across all Landsat sensors.
This is the third video in a series describing the new U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Landsat Collection 1 inventory structure. Collection 1 required the reprocessing of all archived Landsat data to achieve radiometric and geometric consistency of Level-1 products through time and across all Landsat sensors.
Related
Can Landsat satellite acquisition requests be made for a specific date and location? Can Landsat satellite acquisition requests be made for a specific date and location?
The Landsat 8 and Landsat 9 satellites together acquire approximately 1,500 scenes daily. These scenes are available for download within 6 hours of acquisition. Landsat satellite acquisitions are managed as a system, known as a satellite constellation. Long-Term Acquisition Plans (LTAPs) direct and optimize the daily acquisitions of each active Landsat satellite. Special requests for future...
What are the acquisition schedules for the Landsat satellites? What are the acquisition schedules for the Landsat satellites?
Landsat 8 and Landsat 9 orbit Earth at an altitude of 705 kilometers, or 438 miles. Each satellite captures images across a 185-kilometer, or 115-mile, swath. The satellites move from north to south over the sunlight side of Earth in a sun-synchronous orbit. Each satellite circles Earth every 99 minutes and completes about 14 orbits a day – and passes over the same location once every 16 days...
How do I search for and download ascending (nighttime) Landsat scenes? How do I search for and download ascending (nighttime) Landsat scenes?
Ascending (nighttime) WRS-2 path/row numbers are different from descending (daytime) path/rows. Cloud cover values for Landsat night scenes will always be -1. If you know the daytime path/row or coordinates and want to know the nighttime path/row, use the WRS-2 Path/Row to Latitude/Longitude Converter. Use EarthExplorer to search using path/row or coordinates: Access EarthExplorer. On the Search...
How do I search for and download Landsat data? How do I search for and download Landsat data?
Landsat data products held in the USGS archives can be searched and downloaded at no charge from a variety of sources. Visit Landsat Data Access for information about how Landsat data products can be downloaded individually or in bulk. Landsat imagery not found in the USGS archive might have been collected by one of the USGS International Cooperator ground stations, each of which are the primary...
Are there any restrictions on the use or redistribution of Landsat data? Are there any restrictions on the use or redistribution of Landsat data?
There are no restrictions on Landsat data downloaded from the USGS; it can be used or redistributed as desired. We do request that you include a statement of the data source when citing, copying, or reprinting USGS Landsat data or images. Details are on the EROS Data Citation page. Learn more: USGS Copyrights and Credits statement
What are the best Landsat spectral bands for use in my research? What are the best Landsat spectral bands for use in my research?
The Spectral Characteristics Viewer is an interactive tool that can be used to visualize how the bands, or channels, of different satellite sensors measure the intensity of the many wavelengths (colors) of light. This is also known as the relative spectral response (RSR). By overlaying the spectral curves from different features (spectra), one can determine which bands of the selected sensor will...
How does data from Sentinel-2A’s MultiSpectral Instrument compare to Landsat data? How does data from Sentinel-2A’s MultiSpectral Instrument compare to Landsat data?
The Sentinel-2A MultiSpectral Instrument (MSI) data has spectral bands very similar to Landsat 8 and 9 (excluding the thermal bands of Thermal Infrared Sensor (TIRS)). All Sentinel-2 data are freely available from the Copernicus Open Access Hub; therefore, users are encouraged to download the data via https://dataspace.copernicus.eu/explore-data/data-collections/sentinel-…. To learn...
Landsat 9 Image of Shiveluch Volcano
Found along the Pacific Ring of Fire, Russia’s Shiveluch Volcano began erupting on April 11, 2023. Huge ash clouds spewed from the main crater blanketing over 40,000 square miles (108,000 square kilometers). The tiny village of Klyuchi, about 30 mi (50 km) from the volcano, plunged into darkness.
Found along the Pacific Ring of Fire, Russia’s Shiveluch Volcano began erupting on April 11, 2023. Huge ash clouds spewed from the main crater blanketing over 40,000 square miles (108,000 square kilometers). The tiny village of Klyuchi, about 30 mi (50 km) from the volcano, plunged into darkness.
Landsat 8 Image of Lake St. Clair
Landsat captured the tug of war between winter and spring on the heart-shaped Lake St. Clair along the U.S./Canadian border near Detroit.
This Landsat 8 image was acquired on March 6, 2021 and is shown as a natural color composite.
Learn more about the Landsat program at www.usgs.gov/landsat
Landsat captured the tug of war between winter and spring on the heart-shaped Lake St. Clair along the U.S./Canadian border near Detroit.
This Landsat 8 image was acquired on March 6, 2021 and is shown as a natural color composite.
Learn more about the Landsat program at www.usgs.gov/landsat
Landsat in Action - The Accuracy of Landsat with Jeff Masek
Landsat in Action - The Accuracy of Landsat with Jeff MasekLandsat 9 Project Scientist Jeff Masek discusses the ways Landsat data is used and how important it is to have high quality data.
Landsat in Action - The Accuracy of Landsat with Jeff Masek
Landsat in Action - The Accuracy of Landsat with Jeff MasekLandsat 9 Project Scientist Jeff Masek discusses the ways Landsat data is used and how important it is to have high quality data.
Landsat in Action - The Importance of Landsat with Curtis Woodcock
Landsat in Action - The Importance of Landsat with Curtis WoodcockBoston University Professor Curtis Woodcock talks about the significance Landsat was had in science and what he hopes to see as the mission continues.
Landsat in Action - The Importance of Landsat with Curtis Woodcock
Landsat in Action - The Importance of Landsat with Curtis WoodcockBoston University Professor Curtis Woodcock talks about the significance Landsat was had in science and what he hopes to see as the mission continues.
Landsat Collections
Landsat Collections: Providing a Stable Environmental Record for Time Series Analysis
Landsat Collections: Providing a Stable Environmental Record for Time Series Analysis
Landsat Collections — What are Tiers?
This is the third video in a series describing the new U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Landsat Collection 1 inventory structure. Collection 1 required the reprocessing of all archived Landsat data to achieve radiometric and geometric consistency of Level-1 products through time and across all Landsat sensors.
This is the third video in a series describing the new U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Landsat Collection 1 inventory structure. Collection 1 required the reprocessing of all archived Landsat data to achieve radiometric and geometric consistency of Level-1 products through time and across all Landsat sensors.
Updated Date: March 2, 2026