ESA Earth Observation

@esaearth

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

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ESA Earth Observation@esaearth· 19d

Fires, logging and forest degradation are often overlooked in forest carbon reporting. A new study brings together decades of evidence & satellite observations to help improve how these emissions are tracked: www.esa.int/Applications... 📷ESA(data sources:Copernicus Sentinel-2; Heinrich et al,2026)

Satellite image of Xingu Indigenous Park in Brazil, showing dense green rainforest bordered by geometric agricultural fields and a winding turquoise river lagoon.

Map of above-ground biomass change in Brazil’s Xingu Indigenous Park, showing areas of forest loss and gain between 2005 and 2024 near agricultural land.

ESA Earth Observation@esaearth· 19d

Fields of gold✨ This false-colour Copernicus Sentinel-2 image shows agricultural patchwork over the Goldfields–Esperance region in Australia. Captured in June 2026, it shows varied vegetation ranging from brown to bright red, mainly in the lower-left part. www.esa.int/ESA_Multimed...

False-colour satellite image of a coastal area, showing red agricultural fields, darker inland vegetation, and the ocean.

ESA Earth Observation@esaearth· 20d

Looking through smoke from Canadian wildfires🔥 EarthCARE data reveal smoke plumes from fires near Fort Simpson, revealing their extent across the Northwest Territories. Read more🔗 earth.esa.int/eogateway/ga...

EarthCARE MSI imagery and ATLID data visualised over a Sentinel-3 image of Fort Simpson on 16 July
Credits: ESA EarthCARE and Copernicus Sentinel-3/OLCI (2026), processed by ESA

ESA Earth Observation@esaearth· 20d

Where on Earth is this location? Any ideas? Share them in the comments✍️

Satellite image of a coastal region with a patchwork of bright pink agricultural fields bordered by darker vegetation and a dark blue sea. Large text at the top reads “#WhereOnEarth?”.

ESA Earth Observation@esaearth· 21d

There's a new InCubed call available! @esa.int 🤝 @ukspaceagency.bsky.social just opened a new round of applications: UK-based organisations are invited to submit proposals. ⏳Projects up to 18 months 💶 Funding: €300,000 - €4 million 🗓️ Deadline: 21 August 2026 philab.esa.int/esa-and-uksa...

Graphic for ESA and UK Space Agency's InCubed programme, featuring a stylised UK flag over a blue Earth observation-themed background.
Credits: ESA

ESA Earth Observation@esaearth· 22d

Look who is out of its shipping container: our FLEX spacecraft! FLEX will deliver the first global maps of vegetation fluorescence at a resolution of 300 m × 300 m to assess photosynthetic activity. www.esa.int/ESA_Multimed... 📷ESA-CNES-AVIO/Optique vidéo du CSG–S. Martin

FLEX satellite on a transport trolley inside a cleanroom, with scientists preparing it for processing.

FLEX satellite mounted on a transport trolley after being removed from its shipping container in a cleanroom.

Cleanroom personnel in blue protective suits remove the FLEX satellite from its transport container inside a spacecraft processing facility.

ESA Earth Observation@esaearth· 22d

The second EO4Soil Symposium is approaching! 🌱 Submit your abstract related to Earth Observation for Soil Protection and Restoration until 13 August 2026. 🗓️ 4–6 November 2026 📍 ESA-ESRIN, Frascati, Italy More information: www.eo4soilsymposium2026.org

Graphic for ESA’s EO4Soil Symposium showing plants, cracked soil, hands holding soil, and a field divided between bare soil and green vegetation. Event takes place 4–6 November 2026 at ESA-ESRIN, Frascati, Italy.

ESA Earth Observation@esaearth· 23d

One for the calendar: 27 August 👀 That’s when MTG-I2 is scheduled to lift off aboard Ariane 6 from Europe’s Spaceport in French Guiana. Stay tuned for updates. 📷ESA-CNES-ARIANESPACE-ArianeGroup\Optique Video de CSG – S. Martin

ESA Earth Observation@esaearth· 26d

Unboxing, but make it space! The Copernicus Sentinel-3C satellite has arrived at the launch site, where it has been taken out of its shipping container and placed on its dolly. This dolly holds the satellite in various positions, allowing engineers to access different parts of the craft.

Close-up of the Sentinel-3C satellite on its transport dolly inside a cleanroom. Three technicians in protective clothing stand beside the spacecraft as one points towards part of the satellite during an inspection.

Sentinel-3C satellite mounted on a transport dolly inside a clean processing facility at the launch site. Three technicians in cleanroom clothing stand around the spacecraft while an overhead lifting device is positioned above it.

ESA Earth Observation@esaearth· 26d

🌊 Freshwater meets saltwater in Guinea-Bissau. Home to the largest number of saltwater rivers in West Africa, the country is shaped by an intricate network of rivers and estuaries, as seen in this Copernicus Sentinel-2 image.

This Copernicus Sentinel-2 image features part of the Republic of Guinea-Bissau in western Africa.

With an area of 36 125 sq km, Guinea-Bissau is one of the smallest nations in continental Africa. This tropical country is made up of highlands in its northeastern region and, pictured here, lowlands near the Atlantic coast.

Captured in May 2026, the image shows how this coastal region is dominated by low plains scattered with mangrove swamps and cut through by rivers and estuaries, which branch out in the terrain like roots from a plant.

ESA Earth Observation@esaearth· 26d

If it fits, I sits! The MTG-I2 satellite passed the fit checks with the Ariane-6 Launch Vehicle Adapter: a physical and functional verification of the interfaces between the satellite and the launch adapter. This 3800 kg satellite is set to launch on an Ariane 6 rocket this summer🚀

Close-up of the mechanical interface between the MTG-I2 satellite and the launch vehicle adapter during fit-check operations. Technicians in cleanroom suits inspect and verify the alignment of the satellite with the adapter beneath it.

ESA Earth Observation@esaearth· 27d

Let's play 'Where on Earth?' Tell us in the comments where you think this location is👇

Satellite image of a winding muddy river crossing a dark green wetland landscape, with branching channels, a few small clouds, and the text “#WhereOnEarth?” at the top.

ESA Earth Observation@esaearth· 27d

Our FLEX satellite and the Copernicus Sentinel-3C spacecraft have finally arrived to Europe's spaceport! With both satellites now at the launch site, the focus turns to completing the intensive launch campaign that will culminate in their shared trip aboard Vega-C. @transport.esa.int are you ready?

A large roll-on/roll-off cargo ship is moored at a dock at dawn in French Guiana. Bright lights illuminate the vessel and its open cargo deck, while calm water reflects the ship and the purple-blue morning sky filled with clouds.

Inside the cargo deck of a ship, a large white transport container carrying ESA satellite hardware is suspended by a crane during unloading operations. Several workers in high-visibility clothing supervise the lift as daylight enters through the open stern ramp, revealing palm trees outside.

ESA Earth Observation@esaearth· Jul 13

MTG-S1 is now operational! The satellite is now officially delivering weather data after its commissioning has. For MTG-S1, this achievement is particularly significant because it introduces capabilities that Europe has never before had in geostationary orbit🛰️ www.esa.int/Applications...

The image shows Earth from geostationary orbit, about 36 000 km from the planet’s surface. It was captured on 15 November 2025 by the MTG-Sounder’s Infrared Sounder instrument, using the medium-wave infrared channel, which measures humidity in Earth’s atmosphere. Blue colours correspond to regions in the atmosphere with higher humidity, while red colours correspond to lower humidity in the atmosphere.

The outlines of landmasses are not visible in this image. The areas of least humidity, shown in dark red, are seen approximately over the Sahara Desert and the Middle East (top of image), while a large area of low humidity also covers part of the South Atlantic Ocean (centre of image). Numerous patches of high humidity are seen in dark blue over the eastern part of the African continent as well as in high and low latitudes.

ESA Earth Observation@esaearth· Jul 10

Summer comes slowly to Great Bear Lake🐻 Even in mid-June, ice still covered much of Canada's largest freshwater lake. Captured by Copernicus Sentinel-2, the image reveals fractures and ice-free areas spreading across the surface as the lake transitions towards summer. www.esa.int/ESA_Multimed...

Satellite image of Great Bear Lake in northern Canada, captured in mid-June 2026. Blue ice covers much of the lake, with dark cracks and open water marking the start of the seasonal thaw.

ESA Earth Observation@esaearth· Jul 9

Time for our weekly quiz! What is the name of this lake? 1. Otter Tail 2. Great Bear 3. Titicaca Leave your guess below and check back tomorrow for the answer.

$Satellite image of a large frozen lake covered in cracked ice, surrounded by rugged land. Long fracture lines and patterns are visible across the blue ice surface. Large text at the top reads “#WhereOnEarth?”.$

ESA Earth Observation@esaearth· Jul 8

We are getting closer to launch another mission: MTG-I2! What does it do? What data it will collect and why? All the answers you didn't know you needed in our latest mission kit: esamultimedia.esa.int/docs/EarthOb...

ESA Earth Observation@esaearth· Jul 8

Working on emissions monitoring?🌍 Join the Emissions Monitoring from Space and Ground Conference 2026 at ESA-ESRIN, Frascati (26–30 October). Poster abstract submissions are now open until 31 August: emissionsmonitoring2026.esa.int @eumetsat.int, @copernicusecmwf.bsky.social, @eea.europa.eu

ESA Earth Observation@esaearth· Jul 7

First image for Greece's new wildfire-monitoring mission🔥 Once fully operational, the Hellenic Fire System will provide thermal monitoring to support wildfire detection, emergency response and environmental monitoring across Greece. www.esa.int/Applications... 📷OroraTech

Thermal image of Greece and the Aegean Sea from the Hellenic Fire System. Warmer areas appear in orange and yellow, cooler areas in purple, with Athens, Chios and Mykonos labelled.

ESA Earth Observation@esaearth· Jul 7

MTG-I2: fresh out of the box📦 After its quiet time in storage, it’s finally showtime — launch campaign, here we go👀 Stay tuned as we get closer to launch. www.esa.int/Applications... 📷2026 ESA-CNES-ARIANESPACE-ArianeGroup\Optique Video de CSG – S. Martin

MTG-I2 satellite being removed from its transport container at Europe’s Spaceport in French Guiana. Personnel in cleanroom suits guide the spacecraft on a wheeled platform inside a large cleanroom facility.

MTG-I2 satellite in a cleanroom at Europe’s Spaceport in French Guiana. The spacecraft, covered in black thermal insulation with instrument covers attached, stands on a transport platform.

ESA Earth Observation@esaearth· Jul 7

The countdown is on for scientists, researchers and Earth observation experts eager to help shape the future of the European Space Agency’s Earth Explorer satellite series! Tune in now to follow the livestream: watch.esa.int/two/

Graphic showing ESA's Earth Explorer missions

ESA Earth Observation@esaearth· Jul 6

New Copernicus Contributing Missions are already showing promising results. Their data are already being explored for applications ranging from marine monitoring and methane detection to wildfire management and dark ship tracking. www.rapidresponse.copernicus.eu/how-new-cope...

ESA Earth Observation@esaearth· Jul 3

A landscape shaped by time🏜️ The Grand Canyon's layered rocks tell a remarkable geological story. A Copernicus Sentinel-2 image (left) and a Copernicus Digital Elevation Model (right) reveal the canyon's scale and depth, carved by the Colorado River over millions of years. www.esa.int/ESA_Multimed...

Satellite image of the Grand Canyon in Arizona, US. The canyon appears as a winding network of deep valleys cutting through orange, pink and tan desert landscapes. Credits: contains modified Copernicus Sentinel data (2026), processed by ESA

Digital elevation map of the Grand Canyon. Deep blue valleys cut through green and beige plateau terrain, with colours indicating elevation.
Credits: DLR e.V. 2010-2014 and Airbus Defence and Space GmbH 2014-2018, provided under Copernicus by ESA and the EU

ESA Earth Observation@esaearth· Jul 2

Where on Earth is this? Let’s see your guesses 👀

Satellite image of a rugged canyon landscape with steep ridges, deep valleys and winding river channels in shades of tan, pink, grey and dark green. Large white text at the top reads “#WhereOnEarth?”.

ESA Earth Observation@esaearth· Jul 2

Hey, @transport.esa.int: package inbound! The @esa.int FLEX satellite is on its way to Kourou by boat, together with Copernicus Sentinel-3C. After traveling together, the two spacecraft will also fly to space later this summer aboard a Vega-C rocket: www.esa.int/ESA_Multimed... 📸Thales Alenia Space

Container carrying ESA’s FLEX and Copernicus Sentinel‑3C satellites being loaded onto a cargo ship in Nice, France, for transport to Europe’s Spaceport in French Guiana.

ESA Earth Observation@esaearth· Jul 2

The legacy of Aeolus continues🌬️ @esa.int has given Airbus Defence and Space in the UK the authorisation to proceed with Aeolus-2, the operational successor to Aeolus. Developed with @eumetsat.int the mission will provide global wind profiles to improve weather forecasting & atmospheric monitoring.

Illustration of the Aeolus-2 satellite in orbit above Earth. The spacecraft is shown with two extended solar panels and a large instrument body, flying over blue oceans and white cloud formations against the blackness of space. Credits: Airbus Defence and Space

ESA Earth Observation@esaearth· Jul 1

A closer look at the Mediterranean🌡️ This image shows sea surface temperature anomalies across the Mediterranean on 29 June 2026, with the highest average temperature increases seen off southern France and around Corsica, Sardinia and the Italian peninsula. www.esa.int/ESA_Multimed...

This image shows the sea surface temperature anomaly detected in the Mediterranean Sea on 29 June 2026, compared to the average for the period 1991-2020, with dark red indicating temperatures that exceed the average by up to 8°C.

ESA Earth Observation@esaearth· Jul 1

🌊Average global sea surface temperatures reached a new June record in 2026, surpassing the previous June records set in 2023 and 2024. This animation shows sea surface temperature anomalies across the world's oceans, with dark red indicating sea surface temperatures up to 6°C above average.

ESA Earth Observation@esaearth· Jun 30

The end of an era: On 29 June, Copernicus Sentinel-1A gathered its last science data and final image, a glimpse of Melbourne, Australia. One of its final acquisitions over Europe captured Reykjavík and western Iceland. So long, and thanks for all the fish, Sentinel-1A! www.esa.int/Applications...

Radar image of Melbourne, Australia, acquired by Copernicus Sentinel‑1A on 29 June 2026. Roads, rivers and patches of agricultural land are visible, with mountain ranges along the right side of the image.

The image shown here is one of the last over Europe captured by Sentinel-1A. It captures western Iceland and was acquired on 29 June 2026 at 18:59 UTC.

ESA Earth Observation@esaearth· Jun 29

A double earthquake struck near Caracas, Venezuela, on 24 June. The fringes in this Copernicus Sentinel-1 interferogram show where the ground was deformed following one of the strongest earthquakes to hit Venezuela in over a century. Our thoughts are with everyone affected.