USGS Landsat

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.

05/14/2026

A river of lava glowing in the dark, captured from space 🌋

Landsat satellites, a joint mission between NASA - National Aeronautics and Space Administration and USGS Landsat, don’t always take the night off. By special request, they can collect nighttime imagery that helps scientists monitor erupting volcanoes, wildfires, glaciers at twilight, and more.

This nighttime image from Landsat 9 captured Mauna Loa’s 11.3-mile-long lava flow on December 4, 2022, illuminating a plume of ash in the atmosphere above Hawaii. Swipe to see how it looked from the ground the next day.

Want to know what a certain volcano, wildfire, or icy landscape looks like after dark from space? Learn more about what Landsat can see at night and how to submit a special imagery request 👉https://www.usgs.gov/centers/eros/news/nighttime-imaging-grows-landsats-science-value

04/22/2026

04/20/2026

Ever wonder how fast a city grows in the desert? 🏜️

From 🛰️Landsat’s view 438 miles above Earth, watching Las Vegas, Nevada expand is a masterclass in landscape change.

The growth of the Las Vegas metro area can easily be seen in these images from 1986 to 2025. Arid land has been transformed into urban space, with varying shades of green. Roads are indicated by dark lines as they make their way through the dense urbanized strip leading north from the airport. The 2025 image highlights the vibrant green pathways of the many golf courses in the area.

For over 53 years, Landsat satellites have been capturing images of Earth's land masses. Along with Las Vegas, the USGS Earthshots webpage contains images of change for more than 100 locations around the world.

👉Explore more at Earthshots: https://eros.usgs.gov/earthshots

📷 1986: Landsat 5 image of the Las Vegas metro area when the estimated population was 600,000.
📷 2025: Landsat 9 image showing the Las Vegas metro area now home to 3 million residents.

04/15/2026

🎉 Happy 27th launch anniversary, Landsat 7!

On April 15, 1999, Landsat 7 launched into space and started a mission that defined a milestone for the Landsat Program and ushered in a new era for land change science by expanding capabilities for future Earth-observing applications and demonstrating the scientific value of consistent, long-term imaging.

Landsat 7 was a cornerstone of the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS)/NASA - National Aeronautics and Space Administration effort to monitor Earth’s land surfaces, surface waters, and coastlines to deliver trusted data to support science and stewardship. Onboard, the Enhanced Thematic Mapper Plus (ETM+) sensor’s capability to image the Earth with improved precision imaging capabilities and enabled scientists to observe land change with greater clarity and accuracy.

For 25 years, Landsat 7 delivered more than 3.3 million images of continuous, high-quality data that captured historic moments as they happened, was used to create the first satellite image map of Antarctica, and was the inspiration and subject for the inaugural Earth as Art collection.

Explore more about the 7 mission by visiting 👉https://ow.ly/TnOf50YFJUT

📷: Landsat 7 launching into space, April 15, 1999 from Vandenberg Air (Space) Force Base, California