The Wide Angle

  • Released Tuesday, December 10th, 2013
  • Updated Wednesday, May 3rd, 2023 at 1:51PM
  • ID: 11410

To better see how clouds and weather move broadly around the globe, scientists have taken two satellite views of Earth and turned them into one big picture. The views come from data collected by the GOES 15 and GOES 13 weather satellites. Designed by NASA and operated by NOAA, the satellites orbit Earth at the same rate that the planet turns on its axis, allowing them to hold fixed positions in space about 4,000 miles apart and 22,000 miles above the surface. Every 15 minutes, the satellites generate a full-disk image of Earth—one centered over the western United States, and another over the eastern United States. By combining the two images, scientists can get a wide-angle look at how large weather patterns travel across the country. Watch the video to see a time-lapse animation assembled from 10 days’ worth of satellite imagery.

Two weather satellites offer more than one view of our planet.

Two weather satellites offer more than one view of our planet.

This animation of GOES 15 (left) and GOES 13 (right) imagery runs from Nov. 26 to Dec. 6, 2013.

The GOES 15 satellite provides this view of Earth, centered over the western United States.

The GOES 15 satellite provides this view of Earth, centered over the western United States.

The GOES 13 satellite provides this view of Earth, centered over the eastern United States.

The GOES 13 satellite provides this view of Earth, centered over the eastern United States.

Combining GOES 15 and GOES 13 imagery produces this wide view of Earth.

Combining GOES 15 and GOES 13 imagery produces this wide view of Earth.

For More Information

See NASA.gov

App

Credits

Please give credit for this item to:
NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center
Video and images courtesy of NOAA-NASA GOES Project