Safekipedia

Satellite imagery

Adapted from Wikipedia · Explorer experience

A stunning satellite view of Earth at night, showing city lights sparkling across the planet.

Seeing Our World from Space

Satellite images are like special pictures of our planet taken by cameras on satellites high above Earth. These satellites belong to different countries and companies. They capture beautiful views of our world from space.

We use these pictures to see big areas of Earth from above. They help us watch how forests grow, track changes in weather, and even see big storms. Many maps like Apple Maps and Google Maps use these pictures to show us roads, buildings, and landscapes.

A Short History

The first pictures from space were taken a long time ago, even before satellites could orbit Earth. On October 24, 1946, the United States sent up a rocket that took pictures every 1.5 seconds from very high up. The first picture from a satellite orbiting Earth was taken on August 14, 1959, by the U.S. satellite Explorer 6. Today, many countries and companies have their own satellites taking pictures for everyone to see.

Why We Love Satellite Pictures

Satellite pictures help us in many ways. They let weather experts predict the weather and watch big storms. Scientists use them to study climate change and learn about the oceans. Farmers and fishermen use them to find fish and check on crops. These pictures also help protect wildlife and forests by showing changes in nature.

Everyone can see these amazing pictures because many are shared freely. They help us understand our world in new and exciting ways!

Images

The first image of Earth taken from space by the Explorer VI satellite in 1959, showing the Pacific Ocean and its clouds from 17,000 miles above the planet.
One of the first photos ever taken from space, showing Earth from 65 miles above the surface in 1946.
Aerial view of Fortaleza city center and its airport
A model of the Meteosat satellite displayed in front of the EUMETSAT building in Darmstadt, Germany.
A satellite view of the seaside town of Weston-super-Mare in Bristol.
A satellite view of Central Park in New York City, showing the park's layout and surrounding area.
A beautiful satellite view of the Philippines from the International Space Station.
Satellite view of São Paulo, Brazil, showing the city and surrounding areas from space.
The first image of Earth taken from space by the TIROS-1 satellite, showing our planet from orbit.
A satellite view of the city of Bratislava, showing its streets, buildings, and landscape from space.

Related articles

Earth
Weather
Climate change

This article is a child-friendly adaptation of the Wikipedia article on Satellite imagery, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Images from Wikimedia Commons. Tap any image to view credits and license.