NASA Releases New ‘Blue Marble’ Images
Scientists at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center have released images that provide the most detailed view of Earth ever produced.
The scientists, using a collection of satellite-based observations, stitched together months of observations of the land surface, oceans, sea ice, and clouds into a seamless, true-color mosaic of every square kilometer (.386 square mile) of our planet.
These images perfectly capture the fragility of the Earth in one remarkable shot, showing the entire North American continent, Central America, the northern half of South America, Greenland and the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans.
Much of the imagery came from a space camera onboard NASA’s Terra satellite.
Additional research was used from the USGS and NOAA’s AVHRR sensor (Advanced Very High Resolution Radiometer).
“This image is the most detailed image of Earth to date and which shows the beauty of our small planet,” a NASA spokesman told The Telegraph.
Image Credit: NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Image by Reto Stöckli (land surface, shallow water, clouds). Enhancements by Robert Simmon (ocean color, compositing, 3D globes, animation). Data and technical support: MODIS Land Group; MODIS Science Data Support Team; MODIS Atmosphere Group; MODIS Ocean Group Additional data: USGS EROS Data Center (topography); USGS Terrestrial Remote Sensing Flagstaff Field Center (Antarctica); Defense Meteorological Satellite Program (city lights).
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