Far beyond the atmosphere of Earth, at orbits ranging from 290 to over 35,400 kilometers (180 to over 22,000 miles) above sea level, circle the satellites of the Earth Observing System (EOS), the National Aeronautics and Space Administration’s (NASA) primary satellite mission. This group of human-made scientific observers is constantly scanning our planet—tracking weather, monitoring pollution, creating maps, and gathering information that helps scientists predict storms, monitor forest fires, and study the holes in the ozone layer.

Eyes on Earth is a highly interactive science exhibition developed, produced, and toured by the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry (OMSI), with major funding provided by NASA. The exhibit focuses on the EOS, examines how satellite observations are made, and explains what we can learn about the Earth using space technology. Designed primarily for families and school groups (elementary and above), visitors learn what a satellite is, discover the different types of orbits, and explore cutting-edge technology similar to that used by EOS scientists.

Below are resources available on the web, as well as brief summaries and links to some of the primary EOS missions and satellites. Many of the web sites contain activities about observing the Earth from space for home or classroom use.

Web Resources

Eyes on Earth
http://www.omsi.edu/visit/earth/eyesonearth/
Information about OMSI’s traveling exhibit as well as a teachers guide and web resources

NASA Earth Observatory
http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/
Contains new satellite imagery and scientific information about our home planet

NASA Earth Observing System Educator Site
http://eospso.gsfc.nasa.gov/
Includes educational links, educational publications from the EOS program, and explanations of the program and terminology used

NASA Education
http://education.nasa.gov/home/index.html
NASA’s elementary, secondary, higher, and informal education web site for students and educators

NASA Scientific Visualization Studio
http://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/
Facilitates scientific inquiry and outreach within NASA programs through visualization

NASA Visible Earth
http://visibleearth.nasa.gov/
A catalog of NASA images and animations of our home planet

U.S. Geological Survey
http://edcwww.cr.usgs.gov/earthshots/slow/tableofcontents
Images, articles, and activities about how we learn about the Earth from space

Primary EOS missions, satellites, sensors, and instruments

Earth Observing System Project Science Office
http://eospso.gsfc.nasa.gov/eos_homepage/description.html
Program information and resources to scientists, students, educators, and the general public

Destination Earth
http://www.earth.nasa.gov/index.html
Information, activities, and images about how we learn about and protect our home planet

Landsat
http://landsat.gsfc.nasa.gov/
A series of satellites designed to study the Earth's surface and coastal areas

QuikSCAT—Quick Scatterometer—and SeaWinds on QuikSCAT
http://winds.jpl.nasa.gov/index.cfm
Uses radar to measure wind speed and direction over the oceans

TOPEX/Poseidon (Topography Experiment for Ocean Circulation) and Jason-1
http://topex-www.jpl.nasa.gov/
Monitors changes in sea heights, ocean currents, and heat storage

TOMS—Total Ozone Mapping Spectrometer
http://jwocky.gsfc.nasa.gov/
Information, data, and images from the instruments that measure ozone from space

TRMM—Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission
http://trmm.gsfc.nasa.gov/
A joint mission between NASA and the National Space Development Agency of Japan (NASDA) designed to monitor and study tropical rainfall through microwave and visible infrared sensors

Terra—the EOS flagship satellite
http://terra.nasa.gov
Carries a payload of five, state-of-the-art sensors that study the interactions among the Earth's atmosphere, lands, oceans, and radiant energy (heat and light)

ASTER—Advanced Spaceborne Thermal Emission and Reflection Radiometer
http://asterweb.jpl.nasa.gov/
Obtains high-resolution images and detailed maps of land surface temperature, reflectance and elevation in the visible, near-infrared, short-wave-infrared, and thermal-infrared regions of the spectrum

CERES—Clouds and the Earth’s Radiant Energy System
http://asd-www.larc.nasa.gov/ceres/ASDceres.html
Measures the Earth's radiation balance and determines properties of clouds to find out how clouds soak up heat from the Sun and transmit it to the ground and back to space

MISR—Multi-angle Imaging SpectroRadiometer
http://www-misr.jpl.nasa.gov/
Studies sunlight reflected from the Earth and distinguishes different types of clouds, particles and surfaces

MODIS—Moderate Resolution Imaging SpectroRadiometer
http://modis.gsfc.nasa.gov/
A key instrument aboard the Terra (EOS AM) and Aqua (EOS PM) satellites that views the entire Earth's surface every 1 to 2 days, making observations of temperature, clouds, water vapor, temperature profiles, and fires

MOPITT—Measurements of Pollution in the Troposphere
http://terra.nasa.gov/About/MOPITT/about_mopitt.html
Enhances our knowledge of the lower atmosphere and observes how it interacts with the land and ocean biospheres