The Earth Observer

The Earth Observer newsletter, published by NASA's Science Support Office (Code 610) at the Goddard Space Flight Center, has been an authoritative source for consolidating NASA Earth Science news for over three decades. Past issues are available for download via the Archives Page.

EO Banner
The Earth Observer 35th Anniversary Banner

Welcome to a new era for The Earth Observer newsletter! Our 35th anniversary also marks the official public release of our new website. Over the past year and a half, The Earth Observer has migrated from a print publication (the last printed issue was November–December 2022) to publishing PDFs online only (final PDF issue published in May 2024) to publishing individual articles on our new site. While this move shifts The Earth Observer’s format to be more in line with that of other online publications, our intent is for the content to remain distinctive. Readers can expect to continue receiving the same quality reporting on NASA Earth Science activities that they have come to depend on from The Earth Observer for over 35 years.

Editor's Corner

These editorials chronicle NASA Earth Science history since 1989 – from the perspective of the EOS Senior Project Scientist. Each individual column reports on important “current” events that were taking place in NASA Earth Science at the time they were written.

Editor's Corner Figure

The Earth Observer Editor’s Corner: Summer 2024

8 min read

NASA’s third EOS mission—AURA—marked 20 years in orbit on July 15, with two of its four instruments—MLS and OMI—still collecting…

Article2 months ago
March Editor's Corner Image

The Earth Observer Editor’s Corner: Jan – Feb 2024

9 min read

NASA’s Plankton, Aerosol, Cloud, ocean Ecosystem (PACE) mission releases initial data to the public, highlighting the advanced capabilities of OCI.

Article6 months ago
EMIT Data Image

The Earth Observer Editor’s Corner: Nov – Dec 2023

9 min read

NASA’s Plankton, Aerosol, Cloud, ocean Ecosystem (PACE) mission was launched from Cape Canaveral Space Force Base on February 8, 2024.

Article7 months ago

Feature Articles

Read stories about the history and accomplishments of current  and former NASA Earth Science missions, programs, field campaigns, and outreach events, as well as a variety of other topics of interest to NASA Earth Science past, present, and future.

Eclipse photo 9

Looking Back on Looking Up: The 2024 Total Solar Eclipse

9 min read

Introduction First as a bite, then a half Moon, until crescent-shaped shadows dance through the leaves and the temperature begins to drop – a total solar eclipse can be felt growing in the atmosphere. As the sky darkens in the…

AGU photo 1

Seeing “Through the Eyes of NASA” at the 2023 AGU Annual Meeting

8 min read

Introduction  As one navigates the global constellation of scientific conferences offered each year, the annual Fall Meeting of the American Geophysical Union (AGU) is the guiding star. The meeting attracts participants from an ensemble of academic disciplines and a sizeable…

ESTO Team Photo

NASA’s Earth Science Technology Office Celebrates 25 Years 

8 min read

Introduction  Many Earth science missions, both airborne and on orbit, can trace their origins to the early technology developments that produced the groundbreaking instruments, instrument components (the parts or subsystems that make up an instrument), and information systems that enabled…

Meeting Summaries

Read reports on Earth Science mission and instrument Science Team meetings, on science and applications workshops, and on other science meetings taking place both within NASA Earth Science and in the broader national and international Earth science communities.

Sun Climate Group Photo

Summary of the 2023 Sun – Climate Symposium

18 min read

Introduction Observations of the Sun and Earth from space continue to revolutionize our view and understanding of how solar variability…

Article2 months ago
GEDI group photo

Summary of the 2023 GEDI Science Team Meeting

24 min read

Introduction The 2023 Global Ecosystem Dynamics Investigation (GEDI) Science Team Meeting (STM) took place October 17–19, 2023, at the University…

Article3 months ago
DSCVR figure 3

Summary of the Ninth DSCOVR EPIC and NISTAR Science Team Meeting

22 min read

Introduction The ninth Deep Space Climate Observatory (DSCOVR) Earth Polychromatic Camera (EPIC) and National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST)…

Article3 months ago

Earth Science Meeting and Workshop Calendars

NASA Community

  1. 01

    September 18, 2024
    Aura's 20th Anniversary Event

    Greenbelt, MD

    Explore

Global Science Community

  1. 01

    August 4–9, 2024
    Ecological Society of America (ESA) Annual Meeting

    Long Beach, CA

    Explore

  2. 02

    September 22–25, 2024
    Geological Society of America (GSA)

    Anaheim, CA

    Explore

  3. 03

    October 27–30, 2024
    American Public Health Association (APHA) Annual Meeting & Expo

    Minneapolis, MN

    Explore

  4. 04

    November 11–22, 2024
    UN Climate Change Conference (COP 29)

    Baku, Azerbaijan

    Explore

  5. 05

    December 9–13, 2024
    American Geophysical Union (AGU24)

    Washington, DC

    Explore

Main Banner Slice sample
The main banner background image shown above is of the Atchafalaya Delta in Louisiana, taken by Landsat 8 on Dec. 1, 2016. This false-color image emphasizes the difference between land and water, while allowing viewers to observe waterborne sediment.
Credit: NASA Earth Observatory

Earth Observer Staff

Steven Platnick Pic

EOS Senior Project Scientist

Alan Ward Pic

Executive Editor

Dalia Kirshenblat Pic

Managing Editor

Doug Bennett Pic

Associate Editor

Mike Marosy Pic

Design/Production

Stacy Kish Pic

Assistant/Technical Editor

Ernie Hilsenrath Staff Pic

Technical Editor

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