ESA Earth Observation

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@esa.int #EarthObservation: Taking the pulse of our planet from space.
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We share pictures and news on our planet as seen from space.

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Namibia's biggest salt pan, spanning roughly 130 km.

In this Copernicus Sentinel-2 false-colour image of Etosha Pan, vegetation appears red and water in shades of blue.

Look closely and you'll spot red patches on the salt pan itself, suggesting vegetation is present.

www.esa.int/ESA_Multimed...

False-colour satellite image of Namibia’s Etosha Pan, showing a large pale blue salt pan surrounded by red vegetation and scattered turquoise lakes and wetlands.
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And there's more! Sentinel-3C's radar altimeter has also returned its first measurements of the Greenland Ice Sheet. This animation shows measurements collected between 30 September and 4 October, an early indication that the instrument is performing well.

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First images are in!

Just weeks after launch, Copernicus Sentinel-3C has sent back images captured by its Ocean and Land Colour Instrument, showing Central Europe, the Canadian Arctic and the Caribbean:
www.esa.int/Applications...

📷contain modified Copernicus Sentinel data (2026), processed by ESA

Satellite view of Italy, the Adriatic Sea and the Alps, showing snow-covered mountains and bands of cloud stretching across western Italy and the Mediterranean. Satellite image of the Caribbean Sea, showing the Bahamas, Cuba and surrounding islands beneath scattered clouds, with a large swirling storm system west of the Bahamas. Satellite image of the Canadian Arctic, showing snow- and ice-covered islands, sea ice, and dark channels of open water. Thin cloud bands stretch across the frozen landscape.
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Lakes come in more colours than blue 🔵 Green, turquoise, brown... satellite images can reveal an unexpected palette, from algae, sediment and the mixing of different waters. These Copernicus Sentinel images take us to Lake Tai in China, Lake Trasimeno in Italy and Lake St. Clair in North America.

Satellite view of Lake Tai, China, showing green algae blooms across the lake and dense urban areas surrounding the shoreline.Satellite view of Lake Trasimeno in central Italy, showing bright green water surrounded by farmland, wooded hills and scattered towns.Satellite image of Lake St. Clair between Canada and the United States, showing turquoise and green swirls in the water, surrounded by urban areas, wetlands and agricultural land.
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Typhoon Surigae over the Philippine Sea 🌀

On 28 September, Copernicus Sentinel-1 captured this false-colour, polarised radar image of the sea beneath the storm.
Calmer seas at its eye appear dark blue, while orange and yellow show rough conditions and strong winds.

www.esa.int/ESA_Multimed...

Satellite radar image of a large hurricane seen from above, with a dark, circular eye at its center and swirling bands of gold and blue spiraling outward across the ocean surface.
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IRIDE’s Eaglet II constellation is complete🛰️

The final satellites reached orbit on 1 October, equipped with multispectral sensors that will capture images of Earth’s surface for applications including land monitoring, coastal observation and emergency mapping.

🔗 www.esa.int/Applications...
📸SpaceX

A white rocket with a dark band near its base climbs diagonally through a clear blue sky, trailing a bright orange-white exhaust plume.
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EarthCARE tracked Anak Krakatau’s volcanic plume 🌋

Following the eruption on 4 September, the satellite captured the plume’s vertical structure, revealing layers of ash, gases and aerosols at different altitudes and supporting aviation safety.

More 👉 www.esa.int/Applications...

This image uses a capture from Copernicus Sentinel-3 on 5 September overlaid with data from EarthCARE’s MSI, ATLID and CPR instruments. The image also notes aircraft flight levels: most aircraft cruise around FL350, which means 35,000 ft (about 10,700 m). Credits: ESA (contains modified Copernicus Sentinel data (2026), modified by ESA)Image showing before and after the eruption of Anak Krakatau. The “before” image is from 08 August and the “after” image is from 15 September. Credits: contains modified Copernicus Sentinel data (2026), modified by ESA
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What if a lake just…disappeared?🫥 Ephemeral lakes fill after heavy rain, then disappear as the water evaporates or drains away. Despite being temporary, they can provide important habitats and breeding areas for wildlife. 🎞️contains modified Copernicus Sentinel data (2017, 2024), processed by ESA.

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And then there were three🛰️

ESA’s Programme Board for Earth Observation has selected ECO, Keystone and CryoRad to progress to the next phase toward Earth Explorer 12.

The three concepts would investigate Earth’s energy balance, the upper atmosphere & polar ice sheets.

🔗 www.esa.int/Applications...

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Can you spot the boat traffic?👀

Venice's story has always been written on water. In this IRIDE image, boat wakes criss-cross the Venetian Lagoon while shifting shades of blue reveal changing water conditions. Beyond the city, wetlands and salt marshes support wildlife.

www.esa.int/ESA_Multimed...

False-colour satellite image of Venice and its lagoon. The city appears as a pink-orange island surrounded by turquoise waters marked by boat wakes, with nearby wetlands, channels and barrier islands visible across the lagoon.
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