Lava Flows Down Mayon
Lava Flows Down Mayon

The OLI (Operational Land Imager) on Landsat 8 acquired this rare, relatively clear image of  Mayon, the most active volcano in the Philippines, on Feb. 26, 2026. The natural-color scene is overlaid with infrared observations to highlight the lava’s heat signature. On that day, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS) reported volcanic earthquakes, rockfalls, and hot clouds of ash […]

A Bit of Gray on an Emerald Isle
A Bit of Gray on an Emerald Isle

Ireland is best known for its many greens, but the striking grays of the island’s Burren region also stand out in satellite images.

Satellite spies an erupting volcano | Space photo of the day for March 13, 2026

A new NASA satellite image has captured a rare view of an erupting volcano, revealing its bright red lava flow as seen from space.

2026 William T. Pecora Award Nominations Now Being Accepted
2026 William T. Pecora Award Nominations Now Being Accepted

The William T. Pecora Award is presented annually to individuals or teams using satellite or aerial remote sensing that make outstanding contributions toward understanding the Earth (land, oceans, and air), educating the next generation of scientists, informing decision-makers, or supporting natural or human-induced disaster response. Both national and international nominations are welcome.

US-French Satellite Takes Stock of World’s River Water
US-French Satellite Takes Stock of World’s River Water

Rivers rise and fall throughout the year, but by how much? Perhaps less than previously thought, according to new data from the SWOT mission. Hidden riverbed contours are also emerging. In a first, a space mission led by NASA and France has tracked Earth’s rivers swelling and shrinking from month to month over the course […]

Rare glass from 6-million-year-old meteorite strike found in Brazil — but the crater is still missing

There are only a few known fields of tektites in the entire world, and scientists just found another in Brazil.

Sunglint on Atlantic Ocean
Sunglint on Atlantic Ocean

Sunlight beams off a partly cloudy Atlantic Ocean just after sunrise as the International Space Station orbited 263 miles above on March 5, 2025. This is an example of sunglint, an optical phenomenon that occurs when sunlight reflects off the surface of water at the same angle that a satellite sensor views it. The result is […]

Snowball Earth’s liquid seas dipped way below freezing

Iron isotopes show that salty seawater pockets beneath the ice were as cold as −15°C.

Landsat 9: More Than Just A Picture
Landsat 9: More Than Just A Picture

For over 50 years, the Landsat program has provided the longest continuous satellite record of Earth’s land surface from space. Landsat 9, launched in 2021, is the latest mission in this remarkable legacy.