Aerial Photos and Satellite Images

Photographs and other images of the Earth, Moon, and other planets and satellites taken from the air or from space—also known as remotely sensed images—permit accurate mapping of land cover and make landscape features understandable on regional, continental, and even global scales. Transient phenomena, such as seasonal vegetation vigor and contaminant discharges, can be studied by comparing images acquired at different times.

Collections of Aerial Photos and Satellite Images

The Blue Marble (NASA Earth Observatory)

This spectacular “blue marble” image is the most detailed true-color image of the entire Earth to date. Using a collection of satellite-based observations, scientists and visualizers stitched together months of observations of the land surface, oceans, sea ice, and clouds into a seamless, true-color mosaic of every square kilometer (.386 square mile) of our planet. These images are freely available to educators, scientists, museums, and the public.

DFWmaps.com (North Central Texas Council of Governments)

Aerial photos for the following Texas counties: Collin, Dallas, Denton, Ellis, Erath, Hood, Hunt, Johnson, Kaufman, Navarro, Palo Pinto, Parker, Rockwall, Somervell, Tarrant, and Wise. Select “Map Themes/Aerial Photographs.”

Ocean Surface Topography from Space  (NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory)

Continuous data from satellites like TOPEX/Poseidon and Jason help us understand and foresee the effects of the changing oceans on our climate and on catastrophic climate events such as El Niño and La Niña.

TerraServer-USA (Microsoft Corporation)

The TerraServer-USA Web site is one of the world's largest online databases, providing free public access to a vast data store of maps and aerial photographs of the United States. TerraServer is designed to work with commonly available computer systems and Web browsers over slow speed communications links.

Texas Natural Resources Information System (Texas Water Development Board)

Digital data available through TNRIS pertain to water resources, geology, Census, and other natural resources spatial data. Digital Orthophoto Quads (DOQs) provide the most current view of surface features and are available in resolutions from 30 meters to one meter. You can also download 2.5 meter DOQQs, DRGs, TxDOT, DEMs, Hillshades, and more as they become available.

Visible Earth (NASA)

This site provides a central point of access to the superset of NASA’s Earth science-related images, animations, and data visualizations.

World Wind (NASA)

World Wind allows any user to zoom from satellite altitude into any place on Earth, leveraging high resolution LandSat imagery and Shuttle Radar Topography Mission (SRTM) elevation data to experience earth terrain (or any planet with the data) in visually rich 3D, just as if they were really there. Virtually visit anyplace in the world.

Information About Aerial Photos and Satellite Images

Aerial Photographs and Satellite Images (U.S. Geological Survey)

Guide to how aerial photographs and satellite images are obtained and used. Includes information for ordering photographs and satellite imagery.

How to Obtain Aerial Photographs (U.S. Geological Survey)

Describes photographic projects from the USGS, other federal, state, and local government agencies, and commercial firms and includes a checklist for obtaining an aerial photograph.  (Adobe .pdf file.  Requires Adobe Acrobat reader.)

Looking for an Old Aerial Photograph (U.S. Geological Survey)

Selected sources for researching or obtaining historical aerial photographs for business or personal purposes.