Earth from space — Incredible images of our planet from above
Satellite imagery provides a unique perspective on our planet and can encompass a wide range of different scientific disciplines including climate change, weather, volcanic eruptions and even animal behavior. Every week, we take a bird's eye view of Earth, and see how it affects the people living on it.
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Latest about Earth from space
Crimea's 'putrid sea' creates beautiful rainbow of color but smells like rotten eggs
By Harry Baker published
Earth from space A 2014 satellite photo of the Sivash region shows off the kaleidoscopic colors of a series of shallow, hypersaline lagoons — each filled with a different kind of algae.
Wandering sand dunes circle a gigantic 'eye' sculpted by an ancient city-killer meteor in the Sahara
By Harry Baker published
Earth from space This 2013 astronaut photo shows a giant eye-shaped impact crater in the Sahara Desert that is slowly being circled by migrating sand dunes, helping researchers track how far these dunes can move over time.
Eerily circular 'Goblin Forest' surrounds sacred volcano with human rights
By Harry Baker published
Earth from space This 2023 satellite photo shows New Zealand's Mount Taranaki, which is surrounded by a near-perfect circle of deformed trees. The volcano was recently granted the same legal rights as a person.
Giant 'phantom lake' dotted with stripy gold islands shimmers in Australian outback
By Harry Baker published
Earth from space A 2010 satellite image shows dozens of golden islands covered with strange parallel lines shining among the shallow waters of a massive, half-full ephemeral lake in Australia's Great Sandy Desert.
Watch Valencia disappearing under a sea of mud during deadly Spanish floods
By Harry Baker published
Earth from space Satellite images show the true extent of the flash flooding in Valencia during a freak weather event that killed at least 214 people across Spain.
Massive blue 'melt pond' in Arctic glacier is an eerie sign of things to come
By Harry Baker published
Earth from space A 2014 photo shows a massive, iceberg-littered pool of vibrant blue meltwater sitting alone on top of a glacier in Alaska. Similar "melt ponds" are becoming increasingly common in the Arctic due to climate change and are further accelerating the rate of ice loss across the region.
Bizarre 'pet cloud' reappears above its favorite spot in New Zealand
By Harry Baker published
Earth from space A recent satellite image captured the reemergence of a unique, UFO-like cloud, known as the "Taieri Pet," which appears above New Zealand's South Island when conditions are just right.
4 near-identical glaciers spark new life in Arctic island's 'polar desert'
By Harry Baker published
Earth from space This 2012 satellite photo shows a quartet of near-identical glaciers on Canada's Ellesmere Island. The ice masses help to spark life in the otherwise barren Arctic environment.
Beautiful 'lake of haze' in Himalayan valley has a darker, more sinister source
By Harry Baker published
Earth from space This 2014 satellite photo shows a cloud of haze sitting in the Kashmir Valley in the Himalayas. The ethereal "lake" consists mainly of smog and other pollutants from nearby factories.
Deep tidal channels cut between 'pirate hotspot' islands in the Bahamas
By Harry Baker published
Earth from space This 2015 photo from the International Space Station showcases the deep tidal channels that cut through a line of cays in the Bahamas. Astronauts say it is "one of the most recognizable points on the planet."
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