Mount Etna is Europe’s largest and most active volcano. Located on the eastern coast of Sicily, Italy, in the province of Catania, the active stratovolcano is known for its frequent and persistent eruptions. Activity can range from explosive eruptions to lava flows and ash emissions.
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-mile) swath, moving from north to south over the sunlit side of the Earth in a sun synchronous orbit, following the Worldwide Reference System (WRS-2). 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 are offset to allow 8-day repeat coverage of any Landsat scene area on the globe. Between the two satellites, approximately 1,500 scenes are added to the USGS archive each day.
Traveling on the descending (daytime) node from north to south, the satellites cross the equator on each pass at a time that provides the maximum illumination with minimum water vapor (haze and cloud build-up). Landsat 8 and Landsat 9 cross the equator at 10:00 a.m. +/- 15 minutes (mean local time) in their respective orbits
The Landsat 8 and Landsat 9 satellites each acquire data in accordance with their respective Long Term Acquisition Plan (LTAP) using parameters such as seasonality, land definition, historical cloud cover, gain settings, and sun angle.
Learn more:
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...
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...
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 zero. 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...
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://scihub.copernicus.eu/. To learn more about Sentinel data access information please visit...
What are the band designations for the Landsat satellites? What are the band designations for the Landsat satellites?
The sensors onboard each of the Landsat satellites were designed to acquire data in different wavelengths in the electromagnetic spectrum. View Bandpass Wavelengths for all Landsat Sensors The Multispectral Scanner (MSS) carried on Landsat 1,2,3,4 and 5 collected data in four ranges (bands); the Thematic Mapper (TM) sensor on Landsat 4 and Landsat 5 included those bands found on earlier satellites...
After a Landsat scene is collected, when will it become available for search and download? After a Landsat scene is collected, when will it become available for search and download?
Landsat scenes become available through EarthExplorer within 6 hours after acquisition and become visible in GloVis within 24 hours. See Landsat Acquisitions for acquisition calendars and information about daily schedules.
False Color Landsat 8 Image of Mount Etna
Mount Etna is Europe’s largest and most active volcano. Located on the eastern coast of Sicily, Italy, in the province of Catania, the active stratovolcano is known for its frequent and persistent eruptions. Activity can range from explosive eruptions to lava flows and ash emissions.
Landsat 9 Image of the Greater Los Angeles Fires - January 14, 2025 (During)
The tragic fires sweeping across the Greater Los Angeles area in January 2025 have burned more than 40,000 acres, destroyed more than 12,300 structures, and prompted evacuation orders and warnings for as many as 200,000 residents. Exceptionally dry conditions, coupled with strong Santa Ana winds, have fueled the fires.
The tragic fires sweeping across the Greater Los Angeles area in January 2025 have burned more than 40,000 acres, destroyed more than 12,300 structures, and prompted evacuation orders and warnings for as many as 200,000 residents. Exceptionally dry conditions, coupled with strong Santa Ana winds, have fueled the fires.
Landsat 9 View of Beaufort Sea Melt Ponds
This Landsat 9 image from June 13, 2024, shows the Beaufort Sea near Prudhoe Bay, Alaska, using the Shortwave Infrared, Near Infrared, and Reds (Band 6|5|4), and sharpened with the with Panchromatic band (Band 8). The cyan tones highlight sea ice and melt ponds, while the red areas represent land and vegetation.
This Landsat 9 image from June 13, 2024, shows the Beaufort Sea near Prudhoe Bay, Alaska, using the Shortwave Infrared, Near Infrared, and Reds (Band 6|5|4), and sharpened with the with Panchromatic band (Band 8). The cyan tones highlight sea ice and melt ponds, while the red areas represent land and vegetation.
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 Analysis Ready Data (ARD)
The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) has improved Landsat data quality and usability through the creation of Analysis Ready Data (ARD) for the conterminous United States, Alaska, and Hawaii. Landsat ARD greatly reduces the preparatory work currently required to do time-series analysis for understanding landscape change for operational and science users.
The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) has improved Landsat data quality and usability through the creation of Analysis Ready Data (ARD) for the conterminous United States, Alaska, and Hawaii. Landsat ARD greatly reduces the preparatory work currently required to do time-series analysis for understanding landscape change for operational and science users.
Landsat In Action - Monitoring Polar Ice Caps with Ted Scambos
Ted Scambos, Lead Scientist at the National Snow & Ice Data Center, talks about the roll of Landsat in his research studying polar regions.
Ted Scambos, Lead Scientist at the National Snow & Ice Data Center, talks about the roll of Landsat in his research studying polar regions.
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.
Landsat Collections - RMSE
Landsat Collections: Providing a Stable Environment Record for Time Series Analysis
Landsat Collections: Providing a Stable Environment Record for Time Series Analysis
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.
Landsat 7 Path 38 Row 31, Acquired March 29, 2013
On March 29-30, 2013, the Landsat Data Continuity Mission (later named Landsat 8) was in position under the Landsat 7 satellite. This provided opportunities for near-coincident data collection from both satellites.
On March 29-30, 2013, the Landsat Data Continuity Mission (later named Landsat 8) was in position under the Landsat 7 satellite. This provided opportunities for near-coincident data collection from both satellites.
Landsat 5 Image of the Great Salt Lake in July, 1986
Natural color Landsat 5 image of the Great Salt Lake acquired on July 1, 1986. In 1986, the lake was at a record high and covered approximately 2,300 square miles and contained 30 million acre-feet of water (an acre-foot is the amount of water necessary to cover 1 acre of land with water 1 foot in depth or about 326,000 gallons).
Natural color Landsat 5 image of the Great Salt Lake acquired on July 1, 1986. In 1986, the lake was at a record high and covered approximately 2,300 square miles and contained 30 million acre-feet of water (an acre-foot is the amount of water necessary to cover 1 acre of land with water 1 foot in depth or about 326,000 gallons).
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...
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...
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 zero. 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...
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://scihub.copernicus.eu/. To learn more about Sentinel data access information please visit...
What are the band designations for the Landsat satellites? What are the band designations for the Landsat satellites?
The sensors onboard each of the Landsat satellites were designed to acquire data in different wavelengths in the electromagnetic spectrum. View Bandpass Wavelengths for all Landsat Sensors The Multispectral Scanner (MSS) carried on Landsat 1,2,3,4 and 5 collected data in four ranges (bands); the Thematic Mapper (TM) sensor on Landsat 4 and Landsat 5 included those bands found on earlier satellites...
After a Landsat scene is collected, when will it become available for search and download? After a Landsat scene is collected, when will it become available for search and download?
Landsat scenes become available through EarthExplorer within 6 hours after acquisition and become visible in GloVis within 24 hours. See Landsat Acquisitions for acquisition calendars and information about daily schedules.
False Color Landsat 8 Image of Mount Etna
Mount Etna is Europe’s largest and most active volcano. Located on the eastern coast of Sicily, Italy, in the province of Catania, the active stratovolcano is known for its frequent and persistent eruptions. Activity can range from explosive eruptions to lava flows and ash emissions.
Mount Etna is Europe’s largest and most active volcano. Located on the eastern coast of Sicily, Italy, in the province of Catania, the active stratovolcano is known for its frequent and persistent eruptions. Activity can range from explosive eruptions to lava flows and ash emissions.
Landsat 9 Image of the Greater Los Angeles Fires - January 14, 2025 (During)
The tragic fires sweeping across the Greater Los Angeles area in January 2025 have burned more than 40,000 acres, destroyed more than 12,300 structures, and prompted evacuation orders and warnings for as many as 200,000 residents. Exceptionally dry conditions, coupled with strong Santa Ana winds, have fueled the fires.
The tragic fires sweeping across the Greater Los Angeles area in January 2025 have burned more than 40,000 acres, destroyed more than 12,300 structures, and prompted evacuation orders and warnings for as many as 200,000 residents. Exceptionally dry conditions, coupled with strong Santa Ana winds, have fueled the fires.
Landsat 9 View of Beaufort Sea Melt Ponds
This Landsat 9 image from June 13, 2024, shows the Beaufort Sea near Prudhoe Bay, Alaska, using the Shortwave Infrared, Near Infrared, and Reds (Band 6|5|4), and sharpened with the with Panchromatic band (Band 8). The cyan tones highlight sea ice and melt ponds, while the red areas represent land and vegetation.
This Landsat 9 image from June 13, 2024, shows the Beaufort Sea near Prudhoe Bay, Alaska, using the Shortwave Infrared, Near Infrared, and Reds (Band 6|5|4), and sharpened with the with Panchromatic band (Band 8). The cyan tones highlight sea ice and melt ponds, while the red areas represent land and vegetation.
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 Analysis Ready Data (ARD)
The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) has improved Landsat data quality and usability through the creation of Analysis Ready Data (ARD) for the conterminous United States, Alaska, and Hawaii. Landsat ARD greatly reduces the preparatory work currently required to do time-series analysis for understanding landscape change for operational and science users.
The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) has improved Landsat data quality and usability through the creation of Analysis Ready Data (ARD) for the conterminous United States, Alaska, and Hawaii. Landsat ARD greatly reduces the preparatory work currently required to do time-series analysis for understanding landscape change for operational and science users.
Landsat In Action - Monitoring Polar Ice Caps with Ted Scambos
Ted Scambos, Lead Scientist at the National Snow & Ice Data Center, talks about the roll of Landsat in his research studying polar regions.
Ted Scambos, Lead Scientist at the National Snow & Ice Data Center, talks about the roll of Landsat in his research studying polar regions.
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.
Landsat Collections - RMSE
Landsat Collections: Providing a Stable Environment Record for Time Series Analysis
Landsat Collections: Providing a Stable Environment Record for Time Series Analysis
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.
Landsat 7 Path 38 Row 31, Acquired March 29, 2013
On March 29-30, 2013, the Landsat Data Continuity Mission (later named Landsat 8) was in position under the Landsat 7 satellite. This provided opportunities for near-coincident data collection from both satellites.
On March 29-30, 2013, the Landsat Data Continuity Mission (later named Landsat 8) was in position under the Landsat 7 satellite. This provided opportunities for near-coincident data collection from both satellites.
Landsat 5 Image of the Great Salt Lake in July, 1986
Natural color Landsat 5 image of the Great Salt Lake acquired on July 1, 1986. In 1986, the lake was at a record high and covered approximately 2,300 square miles and contained 30 million acre-feet of water (an acre-foot is the amount of water necessary to cover 1 acre of land with water 1 foot in depth or about 326,000 gallons).
Natural color Landsat 5 image of the Great Salt Lake acquired on July 1, 1986. In 1986, the lake was at a record high and covered approximately 2,300 square miles and contained 30 million acre-feet of water (an acre-foot is the amount of water necessary to cover 1 acre of land with water 1 foot in depth or about 326,000 gallons).
Updated Date: June 5, 2025