Ever wonder how Landsat 8 orbits our planet? Here is an overview to explain this part of how we capture every pixel.
What is a Landsat satellite constellation?
Landsat 8 and Landsat 9 work as a satellite constellation. This means that these two nearly identical satellites work in tandem as a system. Each satellite circles the Earth every 16 days, with their two orbits offset by time so that every location on the planet is imaged every eight days. The satellite constellation of Landsat 8 and Landsat 9 is in a near-polar orbit on the Worldwide Reference System-2.
Related
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...
What Landsat products are available? What Landsat products are available?
There are several Landsat Collection 2 products that are useful for science applications and land use/land change studies: Landsat Level-1 Products - Each Level-1 product includes individual spectral band files, a metadata file, and additional ancillary files. Level-1 products are available for all global landmasses. Landsat U.S. Analysis Ready Data (ARD) - U.S. ARD uses Landsat Level-1 data as...
How can I find the acquisition time for a Landsat scene? How can I find the acquisition time for a Landsat scene?
Landsat descending (daytime) acquisitions run from north to south; they cross the equator between 10:00 am and 10:25 am local time on each pass to provide maximum illumination. The acquisition start and stop times for each scene are listed in the metadata file that is included in the Landsat Level-1 product, and are also displayed on EarthExplorer and GloVis. Landsat data acquisition times are...
What are the acquisition schedules for the Landsat satellites? What are the acquisition schedules for the Landsat satellites?
The Landsat 8 and Landsat 9 satellites orbit the Earth at an altitude of 705 kilometers (438 miles) in a 185 kilometer (115 miles) swath, moving from north to south over the sunlit side of the Earth in a sun synchronous orbit. Each satellite makes a complete orbit every 99 minutes, completes about 14 full orbits each day, and crosses every point on Earth once every 16 days. The satellite orbits...
What is the Landsat satellite program and why is it important? What is the Landsat satellite program and why is it important?
The Landsat Program is a series of Earth-observing satellite missions jointly managed by NASA and the U.S. Geological Survey. On July 23, 1972, in cooperation with NASA, the Earth Resources Technology Satellite (ERTS-1) was launched. It was later renamed Landsat 1. Additional Landsat satellites have launched to bring the world an archive of remote sensing data. Currently orbiting and active...
Every Pixel - Landsat's Orbit
Ever wonder how Landsat 8 orbits our planet? Here is an overview to explain this part of how we capture every pixel.
Landsat 8 Swath Animation
The Earth Resources Observation and Science (EROS) Center has created a video animation describing how Landsat 8 orbits the Earth. The video explains the 16-day cycle for capturing imagery of the entire world.
The Earth Resources Observation and Science (EROS) Center has created a video animation describing how Landsat 8 orbits the Earth. The video explains the 16-day cycle for capturing imagery of the entire world.
2013 L8 Orbits Illustration with Day Counter
A 2013 video highlighting Landsat 8's orbits, from the USGS Earth Resources Observation and Science (EROS) Center.
A 2013 video highlighting Landsat 8's orbits, from the USGS Earth Resources Observation and Science (EROS) Center.
Related
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...
What Landsat products are available? What Landsat products are available?
There are several Landsat Collection 2 products that are useful for science applications and land use/land change studies: Landsat Level-1 Products - Each Level-1 product includes individual spectral band files, a metadata file, and additional ancillary files. Level-1 products are available for all global landmasses. Landsat U.S. Analysis Ready Data (ARD) - U.S. ARD uses Landsat Level-1 data as...
How can I find the acquisition time for a Landsat scene? How can I find the acquisition time for a Landsat scene?
Landsat descending (daytime) acquisitions run from north to south; they cross the equator between 10:00 am and 10:25 am local time on each pass to provide maximum illumination. The acquisition start and stop times for each scene are listed in the metadata file that is included in the Landsat Level-1 product, and are also displayed on EarthExplorer and GloVis. Landsat data acquisition times are...
What are the acquisition schedules for the Landsat satellites? What are the acquisition schedules for the Landsat satellites?
The Landsat 8 and Landsat 9 satellites orbit the Earth at an altitude of 705 kilometers (438 miles) in a 185 kilometer (115 miles) swath, moving from north to south over the sunlit side of the Earth in a sun synchronous orbit. Each satellite makes a complete orbit every 99 minutes, completes about 14 full orbits each day, and crosses every point on Earth once every 16 days. The satellite orbits...
What is the Landsat satellite program and why is it important? What is the Landsat satellite program and why is it important?
The Landsat Program is a series of Earth-observing satellite missions jointly managed by NASA and the U.S. Geological Survey. On July 23, 1972, in cooperation with NASA, the Earth Resources Technology Satellite (ERTS-1) was launched. It was later renamed Landsat 1. Additional Landsat satellites have launched to bring the world an archive of remote sensing data. Currently orbiting and active...
Every Pixel - Landsat's Orbit
Ever wonder how Landsat 8 orbits our planet? Here is an overview to explain this part of how we capture every pixel.
Ever wonder how Landsat 8 orbits our planet? Here is an overview to explain this part of how we capture every pixel.
Landsat 8 Swath Animation
The Earth Resources Observation and Science (EROS) Center has created a video animation describing how Landsat 8 orbits the Earth. The video explains the 16-day cycle for capturing imagery of the entire world.
The Earth Resources Observation and Science (EROS) Center has created a video animation describing how Landsat 8 orbits the Earth. The video explains the 16-day cycle for capturing imagery of the entire world.
2013 L8 Orbits Illustration with Day Counter
A 2013 video highlighting Landsat 8's orbits, from the USGS Earth Resources Observation and Science (EROS) Center.
A 2013 video highlighting Landsat 8's orbits, from the USGS Earth Resources Observation and Science (EROS) Center.
Updated Date: July 8, 2025