Blue Marble - 2002
This spectacular “blue marble” image is the most detailed true-color image of the entire Earth to date. Using a collection of satellite-based observations, scientists and visualizers stitched together months of observations of the land surface, oceans, sea ice, and clouds into a seamless, true-color mosaic of every square kilometer (.386 square mile) of our planet. These images are freely available to educators, scientists, museums, and the public. This record includes preview images and links to full resolution versions up to 21,600 pixels across.
Much of the information contained in this image came from a single remote-sensing device-NASA’s Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer, or MODIS. Flying over 700 km above the Earth onboard the Terra satellite, MODIS provides an integrated tool for observing a variety of terrestrial, oceanic, and atmospheric features of the Earth. The land and coastal ocean portions of these images are based on surface observations collected from June through September 2001 and combined, or composited, every eight days to compensate for clouds that might block the sensor’s view of the surface on any single day. Two different types of ocean data were used in these images: shallow water true color data, and global ocean color (or chlorophyll) data. Topographic shading is based on the GTOPO 30 elevation dataset compiled by the U.S. Geological Survey’s EROS Data Center. MODIS observations of polar sea ice were combined with observations of Antarctica made by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s AVHRR sensor—the Advanced Very High Resolution Radiometer. The cloud image is a composite of two days of imagery collected in visible light wavelengths and a third day of thermal infra-red imagery over the poles. Global city lights, derived from 9 months of observations from the Defense Meteorological Satellite Program, are superimposed on a darkened land surface map.
To view an animation of this image go here: www.flickr.com/photos/gsfc/4401845574/
For the western view of the "Blue Marble" go here: www.flickr.com/photos/gsfc/4392965590/
Credit: NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Image by Reto Stöckli (land surface, shallow water, clouds). Enhancements by Robert Simmon (ocean color, compositing, 3D globes, animation). Data and technical support: MODIS Land Group; MODIS Science Data Support Team; MODIS Atmosphere Group; MODIS Ocean Group Additional data: USGS EROS Data Center (topography); USGS Terrestrial Remote Sensing Flagstaff Field Center (Antarctica); Defense Meteorological Satellite Program (city lights).
Credit: NASA Earth Observatory
NASA Goddard Space Flight Center enables NASA’s mission through four scientific endeavors: Earth Science, Heliophysics, Solar System Exploration, and Astrophysics. Goddard plays a leading role in NASA’s accomplishments by contributing compelling scientific knowledge to advance the Agency’s mission.
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![GEOS-5 Modeled Clouds at 3.5-km Global Resolution [HD Video]](http://farm5.staticflickr.com/4031/4409790980_73e797a54c_s.jpg)
Comments and faves
tietoukka, CoreBurn, andybezbozhny, James Kirkup, and 1701 other people added this photo to their favorites.
tsevis (39 months ago | reply)
Amazing! Thanks for sharing!
andrediaslopes (39 months ago | reply)
wonderful!!
Rafael Cassimiro (39 months ago | reply)
Muito show
Leonardo Araújo (39 months ago | reply)
Amazing!
Julio Dutra (39 months ago | reply)
So stunning... but North America again.
quillingsnagela (39 months ago | reply)
Marvilhosa!!!
Nathy Silva (39 months ago | reply)
Wowwwww
Israel Lion (39 months ago | reply)
Única
NilsonRdg (39 months ago | reply)
Mas o foco deveria ser no Brasil...
Thales Moura (39 months ago | reply)
Fabulous!
Rafael da Costa (39 months ago | reply)
Great shot. What camera? (just kidding)
T_helper (39 months ago | reply)
The world's best image to date shows North America in the centre, how surprising. Scientifically and environmentally useless, only pure and deliberate ideological propaganda. They might as well name it earth's postcard.
Metalspork (39 months ago | reply)
Home sweet home
drago582001 (39 months ago | reply)
Esse não é o modo "classico" de visualização do nosso planeta,não respeitando o correto alinhamento dos polos norte e sul,mas ainda assim é um grande trabalho.
This is not so "classic" view of our planet, not respecting the correct alignment of the north and south poles, but it is still a great job.
pps_pablo (39 months ago | reply)
Deveria ter essa imagem com focos em varios lugares diferentes do planeta, e não só na América do Norte.
sqfield (39 months ago | reply)
Hey, T_Helper -- it is your own politics on display.
;-)
A little more investigation before getting all worked up would have led you to this image from the same people:
"http://veimages.gsfc.nasa.gov//2429/glo be_east_2048.jpg"
NASA Goddard Photo and Video (39 months ago | reply)
Hi Friends,
We are glad you enjoy this image. For another view go here:
www.flickr.com/photos/gsfc/4392965590/
eunicesaul (39 months ago | reply)
Maravilhosa!Que Deus a proteja dos homens que insistem em destruí-la.
simonenc (39 months ago | reply)
Such a shame North americans could´t have a less obvious and egocentric behaviour: to put themselves in the center of earth. This image feels like United States will always be kind of ridiculous and vain, using the excuse that they created a "super" image of earth, only to show they ARE the earth (again, and again, and again...)
Lu-Gu (39 months ago | reply)
Superb!
veronikaa (39 months ago | reply)
trully amazing planet <3
SaylaMarz (39 months ago | reply)
I love that you can see the atmosphere.
migimack (39 months ago | reply)
Incredible.
Squeaky Knees (39 months ago | reply)
Suddenly I feel very insignificant
wiggiewormdog (39 months ago | reply)
Hi, I'm an admin for a group called a new world, and we'd love to have this added to the group!
wiggiewormdog (39 months ago | reply)
Hi, I'm an admin for a group called Best Pictures of The World, and we'd love to have this added to the group!
wiggiewormdog (39 months ago | reply)
Hi, I'm an admin for a group called THE BEST PHOTOS OF THE WORLD, and we'd love to have this added to the group!
Mike Soq (39 months ago | reply)
from the pov of an alien, i'd like to invade this beautiful planet
musicalbassist (39 months ago | reply)
To all the people complaining it is of north America, Uhm guess who built goddard and payed for these views? NORTH AMERICA The citizens payed to see this, with our taxes. When your country actually accomplishes something then you can complain.
This is the classic view of the Earth because NASA is the one photographing it. You sheep.
GioPhotos (39 months ago | reply)
Beautiful! Faved!
christyscherrer (39 months ago | reply)
i live there!
Tom Raftery (39 months ago | reply)
Why does the water off California look so turbid?
David_Rojo (39 months ago | reply)
Para todo aquel que quiera una imagen del planeta pero centrado en cualquier otro país que no sea norteamérica, por favor póngase en contacto conmigo, puedo ofrecer un render igual de espectacular que este que ven aquí :) -- Estoy usando los mapas de la NASA para ello.
If you are interested in a render focused in any other country, please ask me for it, I can offer it to you :) -- I`m using NASA maps for it.
kris i aga (39 months ago | reply)
I think I see my dad....
etravus (39 months ago | reply)
looks fake
[ Kane ] (39 months ago | reply)
Oh yeah, I love clouds, etc... the blues... the contrast... wow, looks so good. Thanks NASA.
thoeflich (39 months ago | reply)
Hey I can see my house from here, LOL. This is very cool It is neat to see Goddard on Flickr
shamrocker1 [deleted] (39 months ago | reply)
we must enjoy these....who knows the future of NASA .with the cuts obamas making
AnNamir™ c[_] (39 months ago | reply)
Thanks for this amazing sharing sir!
Greeting from Malaysia.
Asbestorama (39 months ago | reply)
Look again at that blue marble. That's here. That's home. That's us. On it everyone you love, everyone you know, everyone you ever heard of, every human being who ever was, lived out their lives. The aggregate of our joy and suffering, thousands of confident religions, ideologies, and economic doctrines, every hunter and forager, every hero and coward, every creator and destroyer of civilization, every king and peasant, every young couple in love, every mother and father, hopeful child, inventor and explorer, every teacher of morals, every corrupt politician, every "superstar", every "supreme leader", every saint and sinner in the history of our species lived there - on a mote of dust suspended in a sunbeam.
The Earth is a very small stage in a vast cosmic arena. Think of the rivers of blood spilled by all those generals and emperors so that, in glory and triumph, they could become the momentary masters of a fraction of a dot. Think of the endless cruelties visited by the inhabitants of one corner of this tiny orb on the scarcely distinguishable inhabitants of some other corner, how frequent their misunderstandings, how eager they are to kill one another, how fervent their hatreds.
Edited from Carl Sagan's wonderful book, Pale Blue Dot.
rthakrar (39 months ago | reply)
The ice cap looks amazing!
Luiz F Lins (39 months ago | reply)
no EXIF???? (just kidding)
AMAZING SHOT!
Kalense Kid (39 months ago | reply)
Asbesto forgot to add the citation for that quote. Carl Sagan, May 11, 1996. You can hear him here.
William A. LaCrosse III ~ lonewolv (39 months ago | reply)
even thought I would nuke the place from orbit, you can't deny it's beauty.
iwillglo (39 months ago | reply)
stunning
Sienar (39 months ago | reply)
Awesome!
Bryce Bradford (39 months ago | reply)
One can almost see Jay Leno's huge head from here!
=P
nick123n (39 months ago | reply)
amazing pics!
adelina303 (39 months ago | reply)
Hi, I'm an admin for a group called Greeting Phantasy Cards , and we'd love to have this added to the group!
Stunning!
You are invited to visit my galleries. Nice evening!
JupiterSSJ4 (39 months ago | reply)
where is the link to the 21,000 pixel version?