Dazzling Photographs of Earth From Above
Satellite images of mountains, glaciers, deserts and other landscapes become incredible works of art
- By Erin Wayman
- Smithsonian.com, June 09, 2011
(USGS / NASA)
Nature often inspires art, but sometimes it is art. For almost 40 years, the Landsat satellites have been snapping images of earth that look more like they belong on the walls of a modern art museum than stored in a scientific archive. The U.S. Geological Survey, which manages the satellite program with NASA, is sharing the beauty of these photos in its new “Earth as Art” exhibit on display at the Library of Congress through May 31, 2012.
Everyone at USGS who works with Landsat data has a favorite photo, and that led to the idea of gathering a collection of favorites to share with the public, says Ronald Beck, a USGS public information specialist who has worked with the Landsat Program for 37 years. Beck’s favorite in the new exhibit, the third installment of “Earth as Art,” is Icelandic Tiger. The “tiger” is part of Iceland’s northern coast, and its mouth is the fjord called Eyjafjorour, meaning “Island Fjord.” The name refers to the small island the tiger is about to eat.
Comments (10)
Microscopic algae (phytoplankton) have done, and still do, more good than harm, notwithstanding harmful algal blooms (HABs) that are part of the ecological landscape after all.
More significant to us, a little over a couple of billion years ago, the blue-green algae, or what biologists now prefer to call cyanobacteria, generated oxygen which since then has made our atmosphere and planet a livable place.
Shouldn't we be humbled that they will be around, long after our species is forever gone?
Posted by Augustus the Copepodologist on September 5,2011 | 08:45 PM
Our world look beautiful, colorful & familiar... It's home to all but no one own it....
Posted by Behzad Tabrizi on August 6,2011 | 09:29 PM
Not to kill the joy, but I hope you know the negative effects of the algaes (phytoplankton)? They create poisonous bi-products and consume lots of oxygen which kill marine life at some depths. Animals (dogs for instance) that drink water from bays with lots of this can die.
But it looks beautiful from a distance, we call it 'algae blooming' in Sweden ;D
Posted by Peter on June 29,2011 | 07:44 AM
To John Nicol - you can buy these. High quality on photo stock. http://eros.usgs.gov/imagegallery/ The hardest thing is deciding which one to choose! The earth is an amazing and beautiful thing!
Posted by Nancy the geologist on June 24,2011 | 11:16 AM
Beautiful and real. Why can't these pictures be printed and sold as Art? They are just as abstract and colorful as some art works and should be worthy of gallery and museum representation! Also it could bring in money to help the space programs, that are being cut back. As for attributions, how about Photo by "United States of America" They should be available to every citizen of the Planet Earth.
Posted by john nicol on June 16,2011 | 10:59 PM
amazing :)
Posted by teju on June 13,2011 | 12:40 PM
Immensely moving experience. Thank you so much for bringing us the wonder of our planet. It is elevating and at the same time humbling.
Posted by Ramakrishnan on June 13,2011 | 12:17 PM
That makes me what to strap on my boarding gear and go riding!!!!
Posted by april mccumber on June 9,2011 | 05:40 PM
That is amazing!!! Love the colors!!
Posted by april mccumber on June 9,2011 | 05:37 PM
I like it! Looks like an opened human lung.
Posted by april mccumber on June 9,2011 | 05:34 PM