The very first images were taken on October 31, and have now been posted online. The Operational Land Imager 2 (OLI-2), identifies noticeable, near-infrared and shortwave-infrared light in 9 wavelengths, and the Thermal Infrared Sensor 2 (TIRS-2), finds thermal radiation in two wavelengths to measure Earths surface temperatures and its modifications.
” The unbelievable very first images from the Landsat 9 satellite are a glance into the data that will assist us make science-based decisions on key concerns including water use, wildfire impacts, reef destruction, glacier and ice-shelf retreat and tropical deforestation,” said?USGS Acting Director Dr. David Applegate.?” This?historic moment?is the culmination of?our?long?partnership with NASA on Landsat 9s development, launch and preliminary operations, which will much better support ecological sustainability, environment change resiliency and economic development– all while broadening an unequaled record of Earths altering landscapes.”?
Sediments swirl in Lake Erie and Lake St. Clair in this Landsat 9 image of both Detroit, Michigan, and Windsor, Ontario, from Oct. 31, 2021. Credit: NASA/USGS
Landsat 9 reached its last orbital altitude of 438 miles (705 kilometers), in a near-polar, Sun-synchronous orbit.
Its predecessor, Landsat 8– released in 2013– is still tough and work. By combining the power of both Landsat 8 and 9, the 2 satellites can now photo the entire Earth every eight days.
The first image gathered by Landsat 9, on Oct. 31, 2021, reveals mangroves clustered in protected inlets and bays on the edge of the Indian Ocean. The aqua colors of the shallow near-shore waters offer method to the deep, dark blues of the ocean.
The 2 Landsats are very similar in style, however Landsat 9 features a number of improvements. NASA stated the brand-new satellite transmits data with higher radiometric resolution pull back to Earth, enabling it to find more subtle differences, especially over darker areas like water or thick forests. Landsat 9 can distinguish more than 16,000 tones of a provided wavelength color; Landsat 7, the satellite being replaced, discovers only 256 tones. This increased sensitivity will allow Landsat users to see much more subtle modifications than ever previously.
” First light is a big milestone for Landsat users– its the very first opportunity to actually see the sort of quality that Landsat 9 offers. And they look wonderful,” stated Jeff Masek NASAs Landsat 9 task researcher at Goddard Space Flight Center. “When we have Landsat 9 operating in coordination with Landsat 8, its going to be this wealth of information, allowing us to keep an eye on changes to our home planet every eight days.”
All of the brand-new Landsat images– in addition to information from throughout the years– is available online here.
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The most current satellite in the Landsat household of Earth observation spacecraft has collected its “first light” pictures of our world. Landsat 9 released on September 27, 2021 and it continues the almost 50-year custom of making critical observations to assist with energy and water management, forest monitoring, ecological and human health, city preparation, catastrophe healing and agriculture.
The first image gathered by Landsat 9, on Oct. 31, 2021, reveals mangroves clustered in protected inlets and bays on the edge of the Indian Ocean. Landsat 9 can separate more than 16,000 shades of a provided wavelength color; Landsat 7, the satellite being replaced, detects just 256 shades.” First light is a big milestone for Landsat users– its the first opportunity to actually see the kind of quality that Landsat 9 offers. “When we have Landsat 9 operating in coordination with Landsat 8, its going to be this wealth of information, enabling us to monitor modifications to our home planet every eight days.”
