Since NASA Earth Observatory started publishing images in 1999, the archive has grown to contain more than 17,000 stories. This week, Image of the Day stories highlight this robust archive with a look back at images acquired “on this day.” Our brief retrospective illustrates that Earth observations are more than just snapshots in time; together they allow us to better understand—and marvel at—our diverse, changing planet. This image, acquired on July 6, 2015, was originally published with the text below on July 21, 2015.
EPIC will be used to measure ozone and aerosol levels in Earth’s atmosphere, as well as cloud height, vegetation properties, and the ultraviolet reflectivity of Earth. NASA will use this data for a number of Earth science applications, including dust and volcanic ash maps of the entire planet.
“This first DSCOVR image of our planet demonstrates the unique and important benefits of Earth observation from space,” said NASA Administrator Charles Bolden. “As a former astronaut who’s been privileged to view the Earth from orbit, I want everyone to be able to see and appreciate our planet as an integrated, interacting system.”
Editor’s Note: An earlier version of this story stated that it has not been possible to capture images of the entire sunlit side of Earth since Apollo 17 astronauts captured the iconic Blue Marble photograph in 1972. In fact, other satellites—including Galileo, the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter, and geostationary weather satellites including GOES—have captured full-disc views of Earth since then.
Further Reading.
Scientific American (2015, February 6) Al Gore Weighs in on a Long-Delayed Earth Observatory Launch. Accessed July 20, 2015.
The Atlantic (2015, February 10) 7 Truly Amazing Reasons to Care About NASA’s New Satellite. Accessed July 20, 2015.
The Planetary Society (2015, July 20) DSCOVR mission releases first EPIC global view of Earth, more to come in September. Accessed July 20, 2015.
The White House (2015, July 20) A New Blue Marble. Accessed July 20, 2015.
Image courtesy of the DSCOVR EPIC team. Caption by Rob Gutro and Adam Voiland.
Source, NASA.