Richat Structure

July 23, 2002–July 3, 2005

A series of Landsat satellites have imaged the Earth's surface for nearly thirty years, providing data for applications in business, science, education, government, and national security. The Landsat satellite currently in orbit is Landsat 7. The U.S. Geological Survey's Earth Resources Observation Systems (EROS) Data Center in South Dakota is the primary receiving station for Landsat 7 data, and it distributes these data to researchers around the world.

This exhibit is no longer on display at the Library of Congress.

This exhibition showcases Landsat 7 images, from the collection of Landsat photographs held in the Geography and Map Division, which have been selected for aesthetic rather than scientific value. These images are actual pictures of the Earth, created by printing visible and infrared data in colors visible to the human eye. Band combinations and colors were chosen to optimize their dramatic appearance.

Note: The Landsat 7 images were donated to the Library of Congress by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration ( NASA) and the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS). Visit their website at http://eros.usgs.gov/imagegallery/

Connecting Kids: You can continue to enjoy the richness of the Library's collections by going to this suggested link that will be of special interest to kids and families!

Zoom Into Maps