Uploaded October 2023 | Updated September 2026, 6 hours ago
On November 10, 2022, NOAA with the support of their partners at NASA, launched the JPSS-2 satellite, the third in the Joint Polar Satellite System (JPSS) series. This video provides an overview of the JPSS mission.
Learn more:
nesdis.noaa.gov/our-satellites/currently-flying/joint-polar-satellite-system
On November 10, 2022, NOAA with the support of their partners at NASA, launched the JPSS-2 satellite, the third in the Joint Polar Satellite System (JPSS) series. This video provides an overview of the JPSS mission.
Learn more:
nesdis.noaa.gov/our-satellites/currently-flying/joint-polar-satellite-system

![Earth from Orbit: Spring Snowstorm
This week, NOAA satellites have been closely monitoring the spring snowstorm that brought snow to parts of the Pacific Northwest, and blizzard conditions across parts of the Northern Plains.
Credits:
NOAA
NASA Goddard Space Flight Center
CIRA
Music: “Safe From Harm,” by Ryan Grogan [APRA]; Afrosonic; Universal Production Music Earth from Orbit: Spring Snowstorm](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/7Z_qf7xPnsQ/mqdefault.jpg)
![GOES-19 Captures Extended Images of the Suns Atmosphere
NOAA recently unveiled the first images from the Compact Coronagraph (CCOR-1) and the Solar Ultraviolet Imager (SUVI), two advanced instruments onboard the GOES-19 satellite, which launched on June 25, 2024. These tools are set to revolutionize space weather monitoring and forecasting as they begin observing the sun and its influence on Earth.
*NOTE: Data from GOES-19, during its post-launch testing phase, should be considered preliminary and non-operational.
More:
https://www.nesdis.noaa.gov/news/noaas-goes-19-captures-extended-images-of-the-suns-atmosphere
Credits:
NOAA, NASA
Music:
“Beams Of Light” by Ehab Fawaz Abualsaoud [BMI]; Hypersonic Music; Universal Production Music GOES-19 Captures Extended Images of the Suns Atmosphere](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/8-9Hq_ZHdXI/mqdefault.jpg)

![Earth from Orbit: Summer Solstice
June 21 marked the official start of astronomical summer in the Northern Hemisphere. The summer solstice — the longest day and shortest night of the year — occurred at 5:14 a.m. EDT.
The seasons change at various times of the year due to the planet’s axial tilt of 23.5 degrees as it orbits the sun. This tilt means the two hemispheres are exposed to different sun angles and variable lengths of daylight throughout the year. The solstices mark when the sun reaches its most northerly or southerly position relative to the Earth’s equator.
Thus, the summer solstice in the Northern Hemisphere is the exact moment each year when this region of Earth reaches its greatest possible tilt toward the sun. The suns direct rays reach their northernmost position with respect to Earths equator, along the Tropic of Cancer, at 23.5 degrees north latitude. As the Earth rotates on its axis, the North Pole experiences 24 hours of daylight, while the South Pole is obscured in darkness. The opposite occurs at each pole in December, when the Northern Hemisphere sees its shortest day and longest night of the year.
Read more: https://www.nesdis.noaa.gov/news/earth-orbit-summer-solstice
Credits:
NOAA
NASA Goddard Space Flight Center
CIRA
Music:
“Sunrise,” by Atro Lemo [PRS]; Ninja Tune Production Music; Universal Production Music Earth from Orbit: Summer Solstice](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/8CRXKeFWNV0/mqdefault.jpg)

![Earth from Orbit: Hurricane Season Heats Up
As we approach the peak of Atlantic hurricane season, activity in the tropics has ramped up. NOAA satellites are monitoring storms in both the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans.
Tropical Storm Fred formed in the Atlantic on Aug. 11, 2021 and soon made landfall over the island of Hispaniola. Fred weakened to a tropical depression before intensifying back to tropical storm strength on Aug. 15. Fred again made landfall on the eastern Florida Panhandle on Aug. 16 with maximum sustained winds near 65 mph. The storm brought heavy rain and power outages to Florida and Georgia. Fred was the fourth named storm to make landfall in the U.S. this year, following Claudette, Danny and Elsa.
Tropical Storm Grace formed in the Caribbean Sea on Aug. 14. Grace produced heavy rains and flooding in the Dominican Republic, Haiti, and Jamaica before moving toward Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula. Grace strengthened into the second hurricane of the 2021 Atlantic Hurricane season on Aug. 18, as it approached Grand Cayman. Grace made landfall along the eastern Yucatan Peninsula, just south of Tulum, Mexico, on Aug. 19.
Tropical Storm Henri developed southeast of Bermuda on Aug. 16. Henri is forecast to become a hurricane over the western Atlantic Ocean by Aug. 20 and travel up the northeast coast of the U.S., bringing possible storm surge, wind, and rain to portions of the northeastern U.S. and Atlantic Canada.
Meanwhile, Hurricane Linda churns in the eastern Pacific Ocean. At peak intensity, Linda was a Category 4 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 130 mph. Linda is the second major hurricane in the eastern Pacific this season. Linda has the characteristics of an annular hurricane—an intense hurricane with large, symmetrical eyes, and few or no rain bands.
As hurricane season heats up, NOAA satellites are staying vigilant. Stay tuned to the National Hurricane Center for the latest information on tropical storm and hurricane activity.
Learn more: https://www.nesdis.noaa.gov/hurricane-season-heats
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Video Credits:
NOAA
NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center
CIRA
Music:
“Born Hot,” by Nicolas Neidhardt [ASCAP]; In Reality; Universal Production Music Earth from Orbit: Hurricane Season Heats Up](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/8QI9x3NsQ0U/mqdefault.jpg)


![NOAA Satellites View Total Solar Eclipse
On April 8, 2024, the moon moved directly between the Earth and sun, completely blocking the sun’s light and causing a total solar eclipse. During this event, the moon’s shadow passed over parts of Mexico, the United States, and Canada, and millions of people were treated to a celestial show where the sky darkened as if it were dawn or dusk throughout its path of totality.
Credits:
NOAA
NASA
CIRA
Additional imagery courtesy of CIMSS.
Music: “Solar Flares” by Dave Hewson [PRS]; Music House; Universal Production Music
Total Solar Eclipse Photo: NASA/Jordan Salkin
Partial Solar Eclipse Photo: NASA/Joel Kowsky
Annular Solar Eclipse Photo: NASA/Jim Spann
2024 Eclipse Fly around visualization: NASA/SVS NOAA Satellites View Total Solar Eclipse](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/8YN4dfwtdro/mqdefault.jpg)
![Earth from Orbit: Hurricane Sam Powers Across the Atlantic
As Hurricane Sam churns in the Atlantic Ocean, NOAA satellites are carefully monitoring the powerful Category 4 storm, the strongest of the 2021 Atlantic hurricane season to date.
Tropical Storm Sam formed on Sept. 23 in the eastern tropical Atlantic as the 18th named storm of the 2021 Atlantic hurricane season. Only the 2020 Atlantic hurricane season had more named storms by this date, with 23. Sam rapidly reached hurricane status on Sept. 24 and intensified into a Category 4 hurricane by Sept. 25. Sam is the fourth major hurricane (Category 3, 4 or 5 on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale) of the 2021 Atlantic hurricane season.
Just three days after becoming a named storm, Sam peaked in strength on Sept. 26 with sustained winds of 155 mph. Not only did this make it the strongest storm of the 2021 Atlantic season to date, but meteorologists noted that it is very rare for a Category 4 or 5 hurricane to form that far east or south this late in the season. The only other hurricane on record to do so was Lorenzo in 2019. Sam’s rate of intensification was the highest on record that far east in the Atlantic this late in the calendar year.
Learn more: https://www.nesdis.noaa.gov/news/earth-orbit-hurricane-sam-powers-across-the-atlantic
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Video Credits:
NOAA
NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center
CIRA
Music Credit:
“Babel,” by Max Cameron Concors [ASCAP]; In Reality; Universal Production Music Earth from Orbit: Hurricane Sam Powers Across the Atlantic](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/8mJpV_bn3a0/mqdefault.jpg)