Earth Observatory

Earth Observatory
The crew of NASA’s Artemis II mission captured extraordinary images of our home planet during their journey around the far side of the Moon.
Posted April 10, 2026
Earth Observatory
Landsat 9
Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS)
Snow
Topography
An early autumn storm left higher elevations in southern Argentina with a fresh and fleeting coat of white.
Posted April 9, 2026
Droughts
Earth
Earth Observatory
GRACE-FO (Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment Follow-on)
Natural Disasters
The state was unusually dry for much of 2025, but the intensity of the drought has ratcheted up since January 2026.
Posted April 7, 2026
Earth Observatory
Goddard Space Flight Center
Sea Ice
Terra
Patches of open water in the region contributed to low sea ice extent across the Arctic in March 2026, which tied with the lowest maximum observed in the satellite record.
Posted April 3, 2026
Earth
Earth Observatory
Landsat 9
Natural Disasters
Volcanoes
The February 2026 eruption at Piton de la Fournaise has lasted longer and produced a larger volume of lava than recent eruptions from this frequently active volcano.
Posted April 2, 2026
Air Quality
Dust Storms
Earth Observatory
NOAA-21 (JPSS-2)
Terra
Strong winds in March 2026 carried Saharan dust across northwestern Africa and toward the Canary Islands, reducing visibility and prompting alerts.
Posted April 1, 2026
Earth Observatory
Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIIRS)
Wildfires
Dry, warm, and windy conditions across the U.S. Great Plains led to extreme fire activity in March 2026.
Posted March 31, 2026
Earth Observatory
Ice & Glaciers
Landsat 9
A network of meltwater lakes and drainage channels made an Antarctic ice shelf known for its blue ice areas even bluer.
Posted March 30, 2026
Earth Observatory
Landsat 9
Oceans
Wildlife
The activity of herring around Vancouver Island in British Columbia brightened coastal waters enough to be detectable from space.
Posted March 27, 2026
Atmospheric Temperature
Climate Modeling
Earth Observatory
Extreme Temperatures
Heat & Radiation
Temperatures in several states climbed over 100 degrees Fahrenheit in March 2026, which in some places was the highest March temperature on record.
Posted March 26, 2026
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