On August 19, 2023, USGS Director David Applegate and USGS Earth Resources Observation and Science (EROS) Center Director Pete Doucette use golden shovels that have been used at other EROS dedication events to help dedicate a red oak tree, a long-living species, that will be planted at EROS as a symbolic gesture to its future beyond 50 years.
Images
Peruse our selection of remote sensing and Earth science imagery below.

On August 19, 2023, USGS Director David Applegate and USGS Earth Resources Observation and Science (EROS) Center Director Pete Doucette use golden shovels that have been used at other EROS dedication events to help dedicate a red oak tree, a long-living species, that will be planted at EROS as a symbolic gesture to its future beyond 50 years.
This Landsat 8 image, acquired June 11, 2023, gives a view Hawaii's state capital Honolulu and the surrounding area along the eastern shoreline of O'ahu. Center in this image is the Daniel K.
This Landsat 8 image, acquired June 11, 2023, gives a view Hawaii's state capital Honolulu and the surrounding area along the eastern shoreline of O'ahu. Center in this image is the Daniel K.

This photo was taken at the satellite ground receiving station in Svalbard, Norway during Landsat Ground Station Operators Working Group 51st meeting.
Visit this News page for more information about the meeting.
This photo was taken at the satellite ground receiving station in Svalbard, Norway during Landsat Ground Station Operators Working Group 51st meeting.
Visit this News page for more information about the meeting.
Infographic highlighting EROS numbers in 1975. Text reads:
By the Numbers: EROS in 1975
Infographic highlighting EROS numbers in 1975. Text reads:
By the Numbers: EROS in 1975
Ben Reifel, a representative of South Dakota state, worked to get the USGS EROS facility in his state.
Ben Reifel, a representative of South Dakota state, worked to get the USGS EROS facility in his state.
The Multi-Resolution Land Characteristics (MRLC) Consortium is a group of federal agencies who coordinate and generate consistent and relevant land cover information at the national scale. Learn more here: https://www.mrlc.gov/.
The Multi-Resolution Land Characteristics (MRLC) Consortium is a group of federal agencies who coordinate and generate consistent and relevant land cover information at the national scale. Learn more here: https://www.mrlc.gov/.
A sagebrush plant photographed at a park in Boise, Idaho. Sagebrush landscapes cover a vast part of the western U.S. but are threatened by invasive grasses and a cycle of more frequent and more intense wildfires.
A sagebrush plant photographed at a park in Boise, Idaho. Sagebrush landscapes cover a vast part of the western U.S. but are threatened by invasive grasses and a cycle of more frequent and more intense wildfires.

The USGS EROS Landsat Satellites Data System's (LSDS) Science Research and Development (LSRD) transforms Landsat data into value-added science, offering Landsat Science Products for advanced analysis of water, fire, and snow.
The USGS EROS Landsat Satellites Data System's (LSDS) Science Research and Development (LSRD) transforms Landsat data into value-added science, offering Landsat Science Products for advanced analysis of water, fire, and snow.
The EROS Calibration/Validation (Cal/Val) Center of Excellence (ECCOE) compares Landsat and other remotely sensed data to known reference points on the ground to ensure consistency - a process called calibration and validation.
The EROS Calibration/Validation (Cal/Val) Center of Excellence (ECCOE) compares Landsat and other remotely sensed data to known reference points on the ground to ensure consistency - a process called calibration and validation.
Landsat Next, planned for launch in late 2030/early 2031, will be a constellation of three identical satellites that together will view the Earth's surface more frequently and provide more detail about its surface.
Landsat Next, planned for launch in late 2030/early 2031, will be a constellation of three identical satellites that together will view the Earth's surface more frequently and provide more detail about its surface.

Exterior drone image of the USGS Earth Resources Observation and Science (EROS) Center near Sioux Falls, South Dakota.
Exterior drone image of the USGS Earth Resources Observation and Science (EROS) Center near Sioux Falls, South Dakota.

An exterior drone image of USGS Earth Resources Observation and Science (EROS) Center in summer 2023 near Sioux Falls, South Dakota.
An exterior drone image of USGS Earth Resources Observation and Science (EROS) Center in summer 2023 near Sioux Falls, South Dakota.
Map of the Conterminous U.S. showing the Land Cover layer from the NLCD 2021.
Learn more about NLCD at www.usgs.gov/centers/eros/science/national-land-cover-database
Map of the Conterminous U.S. showing the Land Cover layer from the NLCD 2021.
Learn more about NLCD at www.usgs.gov/centers/eros/science/national-land-cover-database
Pete Doucette was named Director of the Earth Resources Observation and Science (EROS) Center in March 2023. Listen to an Eyes on Earth podcast episode where he celebrates the past and talks about the future of EROS here.
Pete Doucette was named Director of the Earth Resources Observation and Science (EROS) Center in March 2023. Listen to an Eyes on Earth podcast episode where he celebrates the past and talks about the future of EROS here.
Aaron Hensley, KBR contractor at the Earth Resources Observation and Science Center, monitors the computers in the ground station.
Aaron Hensley, KBR contractor at the Earth Resources Observation and Science Center, monitors the computers in the ground station.

This Landsat 9 image displaying the coastline of Northeastern Queensland, Australia and the Cumberland Islands was acquired on July 1, and reprocessed on July 12, 2023.
Path 93 Row 74
Product ID: LC09_L1TP_093074_20230701_20230712_02_T1
This Landsat 9 image displaying the coastline of Northeastern Queensland, Australia and the Cumberland Islands was acquired on July 1, and reprocessed on July 12, 2023.
Path 93 Row 74
Product ID: LC09_L1TP_093074_20230701_20230712_02_T1
A Landsat 9 natural color image acquired June 29, 2023 (left) and the corresponding Landsat Actual Evapotranspiration (ETa) product (right) display the properties of agricultural fields of Palo Verde Irrigation District, California.
A Landsat 9 natural color image acquired June 29, 2023 (left) and the corresponding Landsat Actual Evapotranspiration (ETa) product (right) display the properties of agricultural fields of Palo Verde Irrigation District, California.
Phill Orlick (left) and Jeff Falgout, both of the USGS, look at the Hovenweep supercomputer recently installed at the Earth Resources Observation and Science (EROS) Center.
Phill Orlick (left) and Jeff Falgout, both of the USGS, look at the Hovenweep supercomputer recently installed at the Earth Resources Observation and Science (EROS) Center.
Smoke filled the skies over western Canada and even much of the United States in May 2023. The source was several wildfires in Alberta and British Columbia.
Landsat 9 captured this image on May 6, 2023.
Smoke filled the skies over western Canada and even much of the United States in May 2023. The source was several wildfires in Alberta and British Columbia.
Landsat 9 captured this image on May 6, 2023.
This is the thumbnail for the Image of the Week about Fires in Canada. Find more IOWs here: https://eros.usgs.gov/media-gallery/image-of-the-week.
This is the thumbnail for the Image of the Week about Fires in Canada. Find more IOWs here: https://eros.usgs.gov/media-gallery/image-of-the-week.
The EROS, or Earth Resources Observation Satellite, Program was formally established by Secretarial Order in 1967. Under the EROS Program, Chuck became the Associate Program Manager. In this position, Charles J. Robinove participated in international remote sensing workshops, facilitated remote sensing research, and coordinated program development.
The EROS, or Earth Resources Observation Satellite, Program was formally established by Secretarial Order in 1967. Under the EROS Program, Chuck became the Associate Program Manager. In this position, Charles J. Robinove participated in international remote sensing workshops, facilitated remote sensing research, and coordinated program development.