USGS Landsat

06/18/2026

🛰️ Can you identify this iconic landscape from space?

Landsat satellites have been capturing images of Earth for more than 50 years, revealing everything from mountains and rivers to deserts and coastlines in remarkable detail. Take a close look at this satellite view and see if you can name the location.

Ready for more? Explore the full video to test your geography skills with additional landscapes from around the world ➜ https://ow.ly/4Lb550ZcmqS

06/15/2026

This image didn't start out looking like this. 🛰️

When data are first downlinked from a Landsat satellite, they don't immediately resemble the finished image we see here. Creating a precise, science-quality image requires careful calibration and processing.

Landsat doesn't collect an image all at once. As the satellite moves along its orbit, data are gathered by thousands of detectors arranged across multiple sensor chip assemblies.

Before processing, small offsets between detectors and sensor components are visible in the data. Calibration ensures the measurements are scientifically accurate, while geometric corrections align the data and accurately position every pixel on Earth's surface.

The result is consistent, trusted imagery that has made Landsat a gold standard of Earth observation for more than 50 years.

Learn more about how Landsat imagery is calibrated: https://ow.ly/wyTg50Z8Uko

📸 1: Landsat 9 image of southeastern South Dakota. The pre-spring green-up landscape highlights bare ground, while snow-covered areas appear teal in the upper right. The Missouri River winds across the scene. Acquired April 11, 2023..
📸 2: The same scene before geometric and radiometric corrections were applied.

06/11/2026

The future of Landsat is taking shape 🚀

This month's Latest in Landsat newsletter highlights Landsat 10, planned for launch in 2031. Learn how the mission's new imaging capabilities will provide more detailed observations of Earth's land surface while continuing the world's longest space-based record of its kind.

Also in this issue:
🔹Meet the recipients of the 2025 William T. Pecora Award
🔹Learn about the first in-person meeting of the 2026–2030 Landsat Science Team

🔗 https://www.usgs.gov/latest-landsat-newsletter/latest-landsat-june-2026

📷 Landsat 9 image of Lake St. Clair along Michigan's shoreline, acquired July 28, 2024.

06/08/2026

Celebrating World Oceans Day with a view from space 🌊🌏🛰️

From tropical waters and river deltas to sea ice and atmospheric patterns, Landsat provides a unique view of the dynamic processes shaping Earth's coasts and coastal ecosystems.

Scientists use Landsat data to monitor water quality, map coastal change, study harmful algal blooms, and track the movement of sediments and other materials through aquatic ecosystems.

For more than 50 years, the joint USGS-NASA Landsat program has helped document our changing planet from space. Learn more at www.usgs.gov/landsat

📷 1: Shallow banks and clear waters surrounding the Abaco Islands in the Bahamas reveal vibrant shades of blue in the Atlantic Ocean.
📷 2: Sea ice drifting in Foxe Basin, Canada, forms intricate shapes where ice, ocean currents, and wind interact.
📷 3: Silt carried by the Geba River into the Atlantic Ocean swirls around the Bijagós Islands off the west coast of Guinea-Bissau.
📷 4: Dark water from the Suwannee River flows into the Gulf of America along Florida's coastline.
📷 5: Von Kármán vortices swirl around Alaska's Aleutian Islands in the Pacific Ocean.

06/05/2026

📢 Using Landsat data in your research or analysis?

Did you know that some Landsat products are updated after release to incorporate calibration improvements or correct issues identified during ongoing quality reviews?

The Landsat Reprocessing Events webpage helps users track these updates, see what products were affected, and helps them determine whether previously downloaded data should be replaced with newer versions.

🔗 https://landsat.usgs.gov/landsat-reprocessing

📸1: Landsat 9 image of Antarctica's Ross Sea coastline, acquired October 24, 2025, and reprocessed in March 2026.
📸2: Landsat 9 image of Laguna de Términos and Isla del Carmen in southeast Mexico, acquired October 17, 2025, and reprocessed in March 2026.

06/02/2026

📣Pecora Award nominations extended to June 6!

Nominate an individual or group for their innovative work and impactful research on the Earth’s surface, recognizing their significant contributions to science and society and dedication to Earth observation. The William T. Pecora Award honors those who use satellite and aerial remote sensing data to better understand Earth’s changes and how we can use the data for the benefit of humankind. Any national or international individual or group working in the field of remote sensing of the Earth is eligible.

Details for submitting nominations: https://ow.ly/mpc350Z2bow

📷: This Landsat 9 image shows the Washington D.C. area on August 1, 2024. The image was created using Bands 6,5,4 and was then sharpened using the panchromatic band (Band 8) which has a higher resolution than the other bands (15 meters compared to 30 meters).

05/28/2026

🏆 Recognizing outstanding contributions to Earth observation.

The William T. Pecora Award, presented annually by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) and NASA - National Aeronautics and Space Administration, honors individuals and groups who have made outstanding contributions to the field of remote sensing through scientific leadership, innovation, and service to society.

This year, NASA researchers James Irons and Eric Vermote have been selected as recipients of the award for their pioneering work advancing remote sensing and the Landsat program.

Their contributions have helped shape the quality, consistency, and long-term value of global Earth observation data used for applications ranging from agriculture and water resources to disaster response and environmental monitoring.

🔗 Learn more about the award and this year’s honorees at https://ow.ly/wqXa50Z5fIo

📷1:Dr. Jim Irons, project scientist from NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center, speaks to NASA social media followers at Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif., prior to the launch of the LDCM satellite, which was later renamed Landsat 8 after reaching orbit.
📸2:Dr. Eric Vermote is a research scientist with NASA and a member of the Landsat Science Team.

05/28/2026

Landsat satellite imagery captures the progression of the Santa Rosa Island Fire 🔥

These Landsat images show the progression of the Santa Rosa Island Fire on Santa Rosa Island, part of Channel Islands National Park off the coast of California. By May 24, the fire had burned more than 18,000 acres across the island’s southeastern terrain, leaving a large, dark burn scar visible from space.

Landsat data are used during and after wildfires to map burned areas, monitor fire progression, assess vegetation damage, evaluate erosion risks, and support long-term ecosystem recovery efforts.

The long-term USGS Landsat and NASA - National Aeronautics and Space Administration Landsat record also helps scientists study changing fire patterns and landscape resilience over time. These observations support land managers and fire agencies as they respond to wildfires and assess impacts across affected landscapes. Through the U.S. Wildland Fire Service, federal agencies coordinate wildfire response, risk mitigation, and burned-area rehabilitation across more than 500 million acres of Interior-administered and Tribal lands.

📸 1: A water scooping aircraft drops water on the Santa Rosa Island Fire on May 19. Photo Credit: J Foye / U.S. Wildland Fire Service
📸 2: Landsat 9 image acquired May 16, 2026, showing active fire fronts and smoke rising from the southeastern portion of Santa Rosa Island shortly after the wildfire was reported.
📸 3: Landsat 8 image acquired May 24, 2026, showing the extensive burn scar left by the Santa Rosa Island Fire across the southeastern end of the island as containment efforts continued.
📸 4: A boat transporting firefighters to the Santa Rosa Island Fire arrives to the island. Photo Credit: J Foye / U.S. Wildland Fire

05/26/2026

Missed the webinar? The recording is now available. 🛰️

Learn how Landsat Special Requests allow researchers to request non-routine imagery acquisitions for unique science applications, including nighttime urban heat studies and polar ice monitoring.

The webinar also walks through how to submit a request and what to expect during the review process.

📺 Watch here: https://www.usgs.gov/media/videos/landsat-special-requests-expanding-acquisition-capabilities

Need Landsat imagery that isn’t routinely acquired? There’s a process for that.

Did you know Landsat can capture more than standard daytime scenes? Researchers can submit special requests for non-routine acquisitions to support unique science needs—and this webinar will walk you through how it works.

Landsat Special Requests allow users to request non-standard data for studies ranging from nighttime heat patterns to polar ice monitoring. If you’ve ever needed imagery outside the regular collection plan, this session will show you how to get started. We’ll also cover timelines, limitations, and common reasons requests are approved or denied to help set realistic expectations.

📅 Webinar Details:
Date: April 16, 2026
Time: 1:00–2:00 PM ET
Who should attend: Anyone interested in requesting Landsat imagery
➡️ Register here: https://ow.ly/76MH50YCQmr

What You’ll Learn:
🔸 A quick look at Landsat’s routine data acquisition plan (nearly 750 scenes per day)
🔸 How to prepare and submit a Landsat Special Request
🔸 What to expect during the review and approval process
🔸 Real-world examples of how Special Request data support scientific research

📷 A Landsat 8 thermal image shows the Brunt Ice Shelf and iceberg A-74 in East Antarctica on April 4, 2021, revealing structural details of the surrounding sea ice and ice shelf.

05/19/2026

🌍 Curious about Earth’s changing landscapes? See it from space!

Landsat satellites capture stunning imagery of Earth’s landscapes every day, and beyond their visual appeal, the scientific value of this data contributes billions of dollars to the U.S. economy. From monitoring flooding and lost farmland to studying forests, wildfire impacts, and changing landscapes in cities, shorelines, and mining areas, Landsat imagery is available to everyone.

Free access, free data downloads.

See for yourself: https://ow.ly/CfR450YXOik

📷 1: Landsat 5 image of Devils Lake, a natural closed-basin in northeastern North Dakota. This image, acquired August 10, 1995, shows the area shortly after water started accumulating during a wet cycle that has persisted for years.

📷 2: Landsat 8 image of the same area acquired August 28, 2025. Elevated water levels flooded cropland and impacted infrastructure, prompting mitigation efforts including road elevations, levee construction, and controlled outlets to manage flood risk.