The USGS Landsat archive holds over fifty years of Earth-Observing satellite data. This animation displays the cumulative number of Landsat scenes since 1972. The colors on the maps show the density of the number of Landsat Level-1 products.
Images
With 50 years of satellite observations to draw from, the Landsat Archive has no shortage of beautiful and informative imagery to share. Peruse some of the best below.
The USGS Landsat archive holds over fifty years of Earth-Observing satellite data. This animation displays the cumulative number of Landsat scenes since 1972. The colors on the maps show the density of the number of Landsat Level-1 products.
The U.S. Geological Survey and German Aerospace Center (Deutsches Zentrum für Luft-und Raumfahrt or DLR sign statement for plans to continue partnership with the upcoming Landsat Next satellite mission.
The U.S. Geological Survey and German Aerospace Center (Deutsches Zentrum für Luft-und Raumfahrt or DLR sign statement for plans to continue partnership with the upcoming Landsat Next satellite mission.
USGS and German Aerospace Center sign statement of intent for upcoming Landsat Next mission.
(Left to Right): Head of the DLR Space Division Dr. Anke Pagels-Kerp and USGS Deputy Director-Operations Cindy Lodge.
USGS and German Aerospace Center sign statement of intent for upcoming Landsat Next mission.
(Left to Right): Head of the DLR Space Division Dr. Anke Pagels-Kerp and USGS Deputy Director-Operations Cindy Lodge.
Image from the inaugural U.S.-Germany Space Dialogue Space Dialogue in Berlin on June 4, 2024.
Image from the inaugural U.S.-Germany Space Dialogue Space Dialogue in Berlin on June 4, 2024.
![USGS Deputy Director-Operations Cindy Lodge with DLR’s German Remote Sensing Data Center (DFD) Director professor Stefan Dech](https://d9-wret.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/assets/palladium/production/s3fs-public/styles/masonry/public/media/images/IMG_2971.jpg?itok=t6Utnu8H)
USGS Deputy Director-Operations Cindy Lodge with DLR’s German Remote Sensing Data Center (DFD) Director professor Stefan Dech.
linkUSGS Deputy Director-Operations Cindy Lodge shown here with DLR’s German Remote Sensing Data Center (DFD) Director professor Stefan Dech at DLR’s Earth Observation Center in Oberpfaffenhofen finalizing the signatures on the statement of intent for the upcoming Landsat Next mission.
USGS Deputy Director-Operations Cindy Lodge with DLR’s German Remote Sensing Data Center (DFD) Director professor Stefan Dech.
linkUSGS Deputy Director-Operations Cindy Lodge shown here with DLR’s German Remote Sensing Data Center (DFD) Director professor Stefan Dech at DLR’s Earth Observation Center in Oberpfaffenhofen finalizing the signatures on the statement of intent for the upcoming Landsat Next mission.
![Landsat Scene Downloads from USGS Inventory since 2008](https://d9-wret.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/assets/palladium/production/s3fs-public/styles/masonry/public/media/images/Scene_Downloads_Dec22_0.jpg?itok=MhRD6AmR)
This graphic displays the millions of Landsat Level-1 downloads, from 2008 to December 2022.
View more statistics on the Landsat Project Statistics page.
This graphic displays the millions of Landsat Level-1 downloads, from 2008 to December 2022.
View more statistics on the Landsat Project Statistics page.
Scattered fact sheets, highlighting the "Arizona-Landsat Benefits" fact sheet.
Scattered fact sheets, highlighting the "Arizona-Landsat Benefits" fact sheet.
Scattered fact sheets, highlighting the "Nevada-Landsat Benefits" fact sheet.
Scattered fact sheets, highlighting the "Nevada-Landsat Benefits" fact sheet.
Scattered fact sheets, highlighting the "Montana-Landsat Benefits" fact sheet.
Learn more about the Landsat program.
Scattered fact sheets, highlighting the "Montana-Landsat Benefits" fact sheet.
Learn more about the Landsat program.
In 2022, President Joe Biden pardoned two turkeys, Chocolate and Chip. The two holiday birds hail from a ranch in Monroe, North Carolina.
In 2022, President Joe Biden pardoned two turkeys, Chocolate and Chip. The two holiday birds hail from a ranch in Monroe, North Carolina.
![Landsat 9 Image of Kangerdlugssuaq Glacier, Greenland](https://d9-wret.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/assets/palladium/production/s3fs-public/styles/masonry/public/media/images/L9_23012_20220729_B654_Kangerdlugssuaq_glacier.jpg?itok=vKJJ46FL)
Named after a Greenlandic word meaning “large fjord,” Kangerdlugssuaq Glacier is one of the largest tidewater outlet glaciers in Greenland. It flows from the fjord of the same name, the second largest found on the east side of the island. This false color Landsat 9 image was acquired July 29, 2022, using Bands 5|4|3.
Named after a Greenlandic word meaning “large fjord,” Kangerdlugssuaq Glacier is one of the largest tidewater outlet glaciers in Greenland. It flows from the fjord of the same name, the second largest found on the east side of the island. This false color Landsat 9 image was acquired July 29, 2022, using Bands 5|4|3.
![Landsat 8 Image of the Great Salt Lake in July, 2022](https://d9-wret.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/assets/palladium/production/s3fs-public/styles/masonry/public/media/images/L8_P38R31-32_20220703_B432_lrg.jpg?itok=44LbOYJU)
Natural Color Landsat 8 image of the Great Salt Lake, acquired on July 3, 2022. On July 3, the level of Great Salt Lake dropped below the October 2021 historic low elevation.
Natural Color Landsat 8 image of the Great Salt Lake, acquired on July 3, 2022. On July 3, the level of Great Salt Lake dropped below the October 2021 historic low elevation.
This screenshot shows what the Landsat Collections interactive looks like. This storymap collection combines all of the individual satellite storymaps into one location.
This screenshot shows what the Landsat Collections interactive looks like. This storymap collection combines all of the individual satellite storymaps into one location.
Landsat 9 launched into space on September 27th, 2021. The "first light" images arrived on October 31st. On that day the satellite captured: algal blooms in Lake Erie, the glaciers of the Himalayas, bush fires in Australia's Eucalypt Woodlands, coastal communities on the Florida panhandle, and deserts, mountains and mesas across the Navajo Nation.
Landsat 9 launched into space on September 27th, 2021. The "first light" images arrived on October 31st. On that day the satellite captured: algal blooms in Lake Erie, the glaciers of the Himalayas, bush fires in Australia's Eucalypt Woodlands, coastal communities on the Florida panhandle, and deserts, mountains and mesas across the Navajo Nation.
![Landsat 8 Thermal Infrared Sensor Image](https://d9-wret.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/assets/palladium/production/s3fs-public/styles/masonry/public/media/images/LC08_L1TP_031032_20210817_20210827_02_T1_B10.jpg?itok=lrJW9x-D)
Landsat 8 thermal infrared (Band 10) image near Ogallala, Nebraska, showing fields with center pivot irrigation. The Thermal Infrared Sensor (TIRS) on Landsat 8-9 measures energy radiated by the earth of the surface with two spectral bands that can be used to derive surface temperature.
The image was acquired on August 17, 2021 from Path 31 Row 32.
Landsat 8 thermal infrared (Band 10) image near Ogallala, Nebraska, showing fields with center pivot irrigation. The Thermal Infrared Sensor (TIRS) on Landsat 8-9 measures energy radiated by the earth of the surface with two spectral bands that can be used to derive surface temperature.
The image was acquired on August 17, 2021 from Path 31 Row 32.
Extending from the North Sea to Amsterdam, the North Sea Canal cuts across the landscape in this natural color Landsat 9 image from April 24, 2022. Amsterdam, located on the east end of the canal, is known for its intricate canal system dividing the city into 90 islands. The body of water on the right is part of Markermer Lake.
Extending from the North Sea to Amsterdam, the North Sea Canal cuts across the landscape in this natural color Landsat 9 image from April 24, 2022. Amsterdam, located on the east end of the canal, is known for its intricate canal system dividing the city into 90 islands. The body of water on the right is part of Markermer Lake.
Landsat 9 image of the South African National Space Agency's (SANSA) Hartebeesthoek ground station in Pretoria, South Africa. Part of the The USGS Landsat International Cooperator Network, the ground station celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2022.
Landsat 9 image of the South African National Space Agency's (SANSA) Hartebeesthoek ground station in Pretoria, South Africa. Part of the The USGS Landsat International Cooperator Network, the ground station celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2022.
![Landsat 8 image of Karymsky volcano](https://d9-wret.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/assets/palladium/production/s3fs-public/styles/masonry/public/media/images/L8_098022_20220420_B432_b8_with_infrared_overlay.jpg?itok=rPj8tjUm)
Karymsky volcano, one of the most active volcanoes of Kamchatka's eastern volcanic zone, erupted on April 20, 2022. This pan-sharpened Landsat 8 image captured the event. Overlaying the infrared data over the natural color image highlights the heat signature of the active flows.
Landsat ID: LC08_L1TP_098022_20220420_20220420_02_RT
Karymsky volcano, one of the most active volcanoes of Kamchatka's eastern volcanic zone, erupted on April 20, 2022. This pan-sharpened Landsat 8 image captured the event. Overlaying the infrared data over the natural color image highlights the heat signature of the active flows.
Landsat ID: LC08_L1TP_098022_20220420_20220420_02_RT
This Landsat 9 image displays Rama's Bridge (also known as Rama Setu, or Adam's Bridge), a 48 kilometer chain of limestone shoals & sand bars between Pamban Island, off the south-eastern coast of India, and Mannar Island, off the north-western coast of Sri Lanka.
This Landsat 9 image displays Rama's Bridge (also known as Rama Setu, or Adam's Bridge), a 48 kilometer chain of limestone shoals & sand bars between Pamban Island, off the south-eastern coast of India, and Mannar Island, off the north-western coast of Sri Lanka.
![Landsat 7 First Light Image, April 1999](https://d9-wret.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/assets/palladium/production/s3fs-public/styles/masonry/public/media/images/l7_029030_19990418_First%20L7%20scene.jpg?itok=_HX1twk_)
This color infrared image of Southeast South Dakota was advertised as the first image acquired by Landsat 7's Enhanced Thematic Mapper Plus (ETM+) sensor on April 18, 1999. The Missouri River flows from the middle left of the image, to the lower right, where the Fort Randall Dam creates Lake Francis Case.
This color infrared image of Southeast South Dakota was advertised as the first image acquired by Landsat 7's Enhanced Thematic Mapper Plus (ETM+) sensor on April 18, 1999. The Missouri River flows from the middle left of the image, to the lower right, where the Fort Randall Dam creates Lake Francis Case.
Landsat 9 captured an image of the ongoing fire in Uljin county on South Korea’s west coast. The false color image looks beneath the smoke and shows the burn scar as reddish-brown and the heat signature from the fire as bright red.
Landsat 9 captured an image of the ongoing fire in Uljin county on South Korea’s west coast. The false color image looks beneath the smoke and shows the burn scar as reddish-brown and the heat signature from the fire as bright red.