JPL
Careers
Education
Science & Technology
JPL Logo
JPL Logo
Earth
.

NASA’s Eyes on the Earth Puts the World at Your Fingertips

Nov. 16, 2021

Your browser cannot play the provided video file(s).

With NASA’s Eyes on the Earth, you can track Earth science satellites in real time as they orbit our planet and explore the trove of information they provide.

Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech

The 3D real-time visualization tool lets users track NASA satellites as well as the vital Earth science data they provide. Recent upgrades make for an even more fascinating experience.

NASA’s real-time 3D visualization tool Eyes on the Earth got a recent upgrade to include more datasets, putting the world at your fingertips. Using the tool, you can track the planet’s vital signs – everything from carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide to sea level and soil moisture levels – as well as follow the fleet of Earth satellites providing those measurements.

Eyes on the Earth offers an engaging, interactive resource to learn more about environmental phenomena and their impacts.

For instance, to see measurements of the greenhouse gas carbon dioxide in a particular part of the globe, navigate to the Vital Signs menu and click the carbon dioxide button. Eyes on the Earth will show a visualization of data from NASA’s Orbiting Carbon Observatory 2 (OCO-2) satellite, which measures the gas from the ground to the top of the atmosphere. (To ensure the greatest accuracy, the mission reprocesses the data in the months prior to it appearing in Eyes.) Click “animate data,” specify a date range and see how levels shift over time.

How to use Eyes on the Earth
Visit Eyes on the Earth

There are eight vital signs to choose from, with background information on the role each plays.

The newest version of Eyes on the Earth also provides snapshots of significant events in the natural world. For instance, you can see details about the maximum wind speeds of a tropical storm, the impacts of a northern California fire, even see the scale of a phytoplankton bloom off of New Zealand and why it matters.

The improvements also include upgrades for a more seamless user experience.

“With the latest advancements in technology, we are able to harness these innovations to combine larger amounts of data and imagery for users to visualize how our planet is constantly changing,” said Jon Nelson, group supervisor of the Visualization Technology Applications and Development at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Southern California, which developed Eyes.

Get the Latest JPL News

SUBSCRIBE TO THE NEWSLETTER

If you want to know more about the Aqua satellite, just click the icon that shows the spacecraft’s course around the globe. Along with background information about the mission, there’s an interactive 3D model to provide a closer look.

While you’re at it, you can check out the recently launched Landsat 9 as well as two powerful forthcoming missions: NISAR (short for NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar) and SWOT (Surface Water and Ocean Topography).

An Inside Perspective of the SWOT Mission

The graphics are as rich as the data, making for fascinating deep dives as you learn about the science, get to know the planet better, and learn about some of the many NASA missions that track the globe’s health. And while no downloads are required, the web-based application makes a great addition to any device with a browser and an internet connection including your smartphone.

News Media Contact

Matthew Segal

Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, Calif.

818-354-8307

matthew.j.segal@jpl.nasa.gov

2021-227

Related News

Technology .

Ultracold Bubbles on Space Station Open New Avenues of Quantum Research

Solar System .

Engineers Investigating NASA’s Voyager 1 Telemetry Data

Earth .

NASA’s ECOSTRESS Detects ‘Heat Islands’ in Extreme Indian Heat Wave

Climate Change .

International Satellite to Track Impacts of Small Ocean Currents

Earth .

From Weather Forecasting to Climate Change, NASA’s AIRS Builds a Legacy

Climate Change .

NASA’s EMIT Will Map Tiny Dust Particles to Study Big Climate Impacts

Weather .

Clusters of Weather Extremes Will Increase Risks to Corn Crops, Society

Earth .

California Field Campaign Helping Scientists Protect Diverse Ecosystems

Stars and Galaxies .

Webb Telescope’s Coldest Instrument Reaches Operating Temperature

Earth .

NASA Finds New Way to Monitor Underground Water Loss

Explore More

Image .

Lake Ohrid, Macedonia-Albania

Image .

ECOSTRESS Detects Heat Islands in Indian Heat Wave

Image .

EMIT Loaded Into SpaceX Falcon 9 Trunk Before Transport

Image .

EMIT Inside SpaceX Falcon 9 Trunk Ahead of Transport

Image .

EMIT's Components Come Together at JPL

Image .

Global Mineral Dust Source Regions to Be Measured by EMIT

Image .

Pingualuit Crater, Nunavik Province, Canada

Image .

Aerial View of Point Conception, California, and the Dangermond Preserve

Image .

SHIFT Campaign Research Plane Flight Area Map

Image .

Abuja, Nigeria, 2021

About JPL
Who We Are
Executive Council
Directors
Careers
Internships
The JPL Story
JPL Achievements
Documentary Series
Annual Reports
Missions
Current
Past
Future
All
News
All
Earth
Solar System
Stars and Galaxies
Subscribe to JPL News
Galleries
Images
Videos
Audio
Podcasts
Apps
Visions of the Future
Slice of History
Robotics at JPL
Events
Lecture Series
Team Competitions
Speakers Bureau
Calendar
Visit
Public Tours
Virtual Tour
Topics
JPL Life
Solar System
Mars
Earth
Climate Change
Exoplanets
Stars and Galaxies
Robotics
More
Asteroid Watch
NASA's Eyes Visualizations
Universe - Internal Newsletter
Social Media
Get the Latest from JPL
Follow Us

JPL is a federally funded research and development center managed for NASA by Caltech.

More from JPL
Careers Education Science & Technology Acquisitions JPL Store
Careers
Education
Science & Technology
Acquisitions
JPL Store
Related NASA Sites
Basics of Spaceflight
Climate Kids
Earth / Global Climate Change
Exoplanet Exploration
Mars Exploration
Solar System Exploration
Space Place
NASA's Eyes Visualization Project
Voyager Interstellar Mission
NASA
Caltech
Privacy
Image Policy
FAQ
Feedback
Site Managers: Veronica McGregor, Randal Jackson
Site Editors: Tony Greicius, Naomi Hartono