Latest in Landsat October 2026 - Vol. 5 | Issue 10
Landsat Captures the Progression of Summer Wildfires
In the summer of 2026, wildfires swept across north‑central Oregon, leaving a dramatic mark on the landscape. The Rowe Creek Complex fire, sparked by lightning near Fossil, Oregon, in July, raced through grasslands, brush, and forests. By late August, nearly 374,000 acres had burned.
From 438 miles above Earth, Landsat satellites recorded the unfolding disaster. This series of Landsat 8 and Landsat 9 images reveals the region during and after the flames, clearly showing the dark burn scars left behind.
These satellite views provide a lasting record of the fire’s footprint. Scientists use Landsat data to understand where the fire burned most intensely, how vegetation responds over time, and where lasting impacts remain. Ongoing observations help land managers and researchers track recovery and changes across the landscape long after the smoke has cleared.
Landsat images are available for free through the USGS EarthExplorer and the Landsat Commercial Cloud.
The Latest News
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Landsat Product Supports Water Management Worldwide Landsat Product Supports Water Management Worldwide
When it comes to the world’s water supply, effective management is vital. One of the challenges is understanding how much water crops and vegetation actually use. How much water is required? How much water is “too much”?
Landsat MSS Level-1 Products Reprocessed to Correct Brightness Values Landsat MSS Level-1 Products Reprocessed to Correct Brightness Values
Several Landsat 2 and Landsat 3 Multispectral Sensor (MSS) Level-1 products were recently reprocessed to correct brightness value errors that were initially discovered in early 2025.
Modernize Your Landsat Notifications with SNS Topics
The USGS Earth Resources Observation and Science (EROS) Center Landsat project uses Amazon SNS (Simple Notification Service) topics to notify users when new Landsat Collection 2 image data and science products are added to the USGS EROS archive, providing a more reliable, scalable, and flexible distribution method that aligns with the AWS cloud infrastructure hosting the Collection 2 archive since 2020.
If you still utilize any of the existing Really Simple Syndication (RSS) Feeds to find out when new data are added to the archive, we encourage you to check out the SNS. Eventually, all RSS Feeds will be discontinued - and if you switch over to Amazon SNS topics now, your current workflows, applications, scripts, or services will continue to work without interruption.
Visit the Landsat Commercial Cloud Data Access webpage to learn everything about accessing information in the cloud. While SNS topics for Landsat products are already available and listed on this page, SNS topics for Landsat Calibration Parameter Files, Bias Parameter Files, and Responsive Linearization Look Up Tables (RLUTS) are being tested and will be added in December 2026.
An upcoming Landsat Missions News headline will contain more details about the RSS discontinuation.
Celebrating 250 - All Year Long!
Throughout the year, we’re celebrating every U.S. state in the order they entered the Union. Below are a couple of images recently featured on our Social Media channels, along with the Landsat Portrait of America, a newly created mosaic crafted from Landsat 8 and Landsat 9 imagery.
Don't forget to check out the the Landsat Benefits, State By State webpage to see how Landsat satellites provide a landscape-level view of land surface changes and are used by Local, State, Tribal, and Federal agencies to make informed decisions for the best land resource management practices.
Bombay Hook National Wildlife Refuge, Delaware
Delaware’s low-lying coast makes it especially vulnerable to flooding, erosion, and rising seas. Wetlands like those at Bombay Hook National Wildlife Refuge help protect nearby communities while providing critical habitat for migratory birds. Landsat 9 acquired this image on June 13, 2026. The Dover, Delaware metro area is visible in the lower central portion of the image.
Landsat Portrait of America
The complete Landsat Portrait of America poster, shown with the front on top and the back below.To mark the 250th anniversary of the United States, the Landsat program has released a new portrait of the nation from space. The mosaic was built by analyzing billions of Landsat 8 and Landsat 9 pixels from the USGS Landsat archive. For each location, cloud-free observations collected during the…
Landsat Image of Savannah Georgia
This Landsat 8 image of Savannah and the surrounding Georgia coast shows the city near the upper center, bordered by the Savannah River and a network of winding tidal creeks and salt marshes. This image was acquired on June 3, 2026.
Got Questions? We’ve Got Answers!
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Explore the Landsat social media channels, discover the latest news and resources, and find answers to your questions about Landsat Missions, science products, and data access. We are here to help you stay informed!
Landsat Missions Landsat Missions
Since 1972, the joint NASA/ U.S. Geological Survey Landsat series of Earth Observation satellites have continuously acquired images of the Earth’s land surface, providing uninterrupted data to help land managers and policymakers make informed decisions about natural resources and the environment.
Landsat is a part of the USGS National Land Imaging (NLI) Program.
Landsat Frequently Asked Questions Landsat Frequently Asked Questions
This page lists commonly asked questions pertaining to the Landsat satellite missions, the science behind maintaining high quality Landsat data, and what products are available - and how to download them.
EROS User Services
Your trusted resource for USGS EROS data and tools. As the primary contact point for the USGS Earth Resources Observation and Science (EROS) center, we help thousands of users each year access and understand our vast archive of remotely sensed imagery and science products.
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Latest in Landsat Newsletter Latest in Landsat Newsletter
Learn about the Latest in Landsat! This monthly newsletter highlights current news, uses, tools, and announcements about the Landsat suite of Earth-observing satellites and the data collected from them.