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A heat map of the Earth's northern hemisphere, with a dark blue shape over the US showing a severe winter storm

NASA satellite watches January's polar vortex | Space photo of the day for Feb. 4, 2026

By Kenna Hughes-Castleberry published

A late January 2026 winter storm left more than snow and ice in its wake.

Earth
An image of the world with various lines of green and blue showing the river system with a table of numbers on the left showing main flow levels corresponding to various colors.

Satellite sees river flow across the globe | Space photo of the day for Jan. 29, 2025

By Kenna Hughes-Castleberry published

Along with this stunning image is the first-ever global estimate of river water discharge and overall sediment suspension.

Earth
Wednesday, January 30, 2019: As a dangerously cold rush of air is sweeping across the Midwest United States today, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's GOES-East satellite is keeping an eye on the record-breaking weather event from space. This surge of cold air is the result of a rift in the polar vortex, a circulation of winds that surround the North Pole.

How Earth's atmosphere and climate come together to create a polar vortex

By Judah Cohen, Mathew Barlow published

To understand what Americans are experiencing with this winter blast, we need to look more than 20 miles above the surface of Earth, to the stratospheric polar vortex.

Earth
A vertical building is lit up in red, white and blue colors with the numbers 250 on it from top to bottom next to a white illuminated building with columns against a dark night sky.

America's 250th lights up Washington Monument | Space photo of the day for Jan. 28, 2026

By Kenna Hughes-Castleberry published

A 250th anniversary only comes once in a lifetime.

Earth
A close up of Earth in the darkness of space with a white shape in the middle of its oceans and clouds.

Beneath the ice: Satellites help map Antarctica's subglacial surface like never before

By Stefanie Waldek published

Antarctica's subglacial bedrock was previously one of the least-mapped planetary surfaces in our solar system.

Earth
A brown landscape is scarred dark red as streaks of orange flames are seen around the edges of the dark area with streams of smoke moving toward the bottom of the image

Satellites spy raging bushfires in Australia | Space photo of the day for Jan. 15, 2026

By Kenna Hughes-Castleberry published

The image shows just how large and devastating these events can be.

Earth
A series of snow-covered mountain peaks jut out against a white landscape in an image seen from space

Satellite sees snowy Greenland peaks from space | Space photo of the day for Jan. 14, 2026

By Kenna Hughes-Castleberry published

Greenland's mountains greatly affect local climate patterns.

Earth
A silhouette of an oil drill sits in front of a orange and golden sunset

How Earth's orbit might help us find oil reserves within the planet

By Stefanie Waldek published

Scientists studying Jurassic rocks in China found that cyclical changes in Earth's orbit affected not only the climate, but also the development of shale oil reserves.

Earth
A blue jagged shape is seen in dark waters with white foam from the sea with the large white label Iceberg A-23A next to the blue shape

Satellite sees 40-year-old iceberg melt, turn blue | Space photo of the day for January 12, 2025

By Kenna Hughes-Castleberry published

Iceberg A23-A has been around since the Chernobyl explosion and Space Shuttle Challenger accident...but perhaps not for much longer.

Earth
A snowy landscape shows red rocks with white snow interspersed to create a muscle-y, meaty image

This Canadian crater looks like marbled meat | Space photo of the day for Jan. 6, 2026

By Kenna Hughes-Castleberry published

The reservoir seen in this image is sometimes referred to as the "eye of Quebec."

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