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.
See more stunning pictures of Earth
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Towering 'sponge' dome in Brazil is the secret source of nearby hot springsEarth from space A 2025 satellite photo shows the Caldas Novas dome, a 12-mile-long monolith that towers above the Brazilian state of Goiás. The structure acts as a giant sponge, soaking up water that helps fuel nearby hot springs.
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A surprising slab of salt shines at the summit of the Sahara's tallest peakEarth from space A 2024 astronaut photo captured an unusual salt patch shining like snow on top of northern Chad's imposing Emi Koussi volcano, which is covered with ancient lava, hidden vents and shadowy waterways.
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Peculiar land bridge separates a pair of colorful lakes in PatagoniaEarth from space A 2020 astronaut photo shows the unusual point where two contrastingly colored Patagonian lakes meet. The duo was originally a single body of water but was split by a narrow land bridge.
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25 years ago, a NASA astronaut captured this haunting photo of the 9/11 attacksEarth from space During the Sept. 11 attacks, NASA astronaut Frank Culbertson — the only American not on Earth at the time — snapped a "sobering" shot of smoke pouring across New York City as the second tower fell.
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Ghostly green lakes merge in Australian outback after 2 years of heavy rainEarth from space A 2024 satellite photo shows a series of ephemeral lakes that merged into a single emerald structure in Australia's Northern Territory following two years of extreme rainfall.
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Rare sunlight trick transforms Pacific island into a giant silver 'magnifying glass'Earth from space A 2023 astronaut photo captured a "sunglint" illuminating the sea surrounding one of the Solomon Islands. The rare phenomenon also transformed the Pacific's largest lake into a shining silver "lens."
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Giant underwater plume blasts into swirling cloud 'street' in the East China SeaEarth from space A recent satellite photo captured a series of clouds sculpted by von Kármán vortices from a volcano on South Korea's Jeju Island. A giant multicolor plume, ejected by China's Yangtze River, is also visible in the image.
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Explosive 'Mountain of God' spits out world's fastest-flowing lavaEarth from space A 2020 astronaut photo shows the unique structure of Ol Doinyo Lengai, an active stratovolcano in Tanzania that was recently adorned with a bright white "ash cone." The explosive peak produces a rare type of lava that is unusually cool but travels remarkably quickly.
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World's highest frozen lake shatters along disputed border between China and IndiaEarth from space A 2024 astronaut photo shows the icy surface of Pangong Lake breaking apart in the lofty Tibetan Plateau. The point where the ice meets the water almost perfectly matches a disputed border between China and India.
Earth from space
