Earth Observatory

Earth Observatory
Human Dimensions
Two hundred years ago, a battle in the port city of Baltimore inspired the writing of America’s national anthem.
Posted June 29, 2026
Earth Observatory
Land Cover
Land Use
Landsat 8 / LDCM (Landsat Data Continuity Mission)
Marshy, sandy terrain and an impassable inlet helped colonial forces repel British forces during a pivotal battle on the barrier island near Charleston, South Carolina, on June 28, 1776.
Posted June 26, 2026
Earth Observatory
International Space Station (ISS)
Water Blooms
Phytoplankton added a milky blue hue to the waters of the Black Sea and nearby waterways in spring and summer 2026.
Posted June 25, 2026
Apollo
Earth Observatory
Landsat 9
Planetary Analogs
Topography
Apollo astronauts previewed their roles as lunar field geologists in Alaska’s Valley of Ten Thousand Smokes.
Posted June 24, 2026
Earth Observatory
Landsat 5
Landsat 9
Surface Water
Relentless rains are threatening a lake in Kenya’s Great Rift Valley that has become a key hub in the global flower trade.
Posted June 23, 2026
Earth Observatory
Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS)
Sea Ice
Snow
Surface Water
Drifting sea ice fragments near Alaska’s Saint Lawrence and Nunivak islands and colorful water around the Yukon Delta heralded the approach of the summer solstice.
Posted June 22, 2026
Earth Observatory
Extreme Weather Events
Terra
The first named storm of the 2026 Atlantic hurricane season brought intense rainfall and the threat of flash flooding to the U.S. Gulf Coast.
Posted June 19, 2026
Earth Observatory
El Niño - Southern Oscillation
Jet Propulsion Laboratory
Sea Surface Topography
Sentinel-6 Michael Freilich Satellite
Satellite observations of sea surface height indicated that the 2026 event continued to strengthen in early June.
Posted June 18, 2026
Droughts
Earth Observatory
Surface Water
Water on Earth
Drought and water releases drained the Arizona reservoir to levels that have led to widespread fish deaths.
Posted June 17, 2026
Earth Observatory
Landsat 8 / LDCM (Landsat Data Continuity Mission)
Topography
The Nebraska Sandhills—the largest system of sand dunes in the Western Hemisphere—stretch across about one-quarter of the state.
Posted June 16, 2026
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