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The Earth Observer

The Earth Observer newsletter, published by NASA's Science Support Office (Code 610) at the Goddard Space Flight Center, was an authoritative source for consolidating NASA Earth Science news for over three decades. Past issues are available for download via the Archives Page.

The Archives Page  also has a Bibliography, which while  not intended to be an exhaustive list, presents an overview of the history that were chronicled and preserved in The Earth Observer during the publication’s nearly 37 years of reporting on NASA Earth Science. 

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Editor's Corner

These editorials chronicle NASA Earth Science history since 1989 – from the perspective of the EOS Senior Project Scientist. Each individual column reports on important “current” events that were taking place in NASA Earth Science at the time they were written.

The Final Earth Observer Editor’s Corner: October–December 2025
14 min read

It is with a heavy heart that I announce that NASA Earth Science Communications has directed The Earth Observer to…

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The Earth Observer Editor’s Corner: July–September 2025
13 min read

NOTE TO READERS: After more than three decades associated with or directly employed by NASA, Steve Platnick [GSFC—Deputy Director for…

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The Earth Observer Editor’s Corner: April–June 2025
9 min read

NASA’s Earth science missions have continued to demonstrate remarkable adaptability and innovation, balancing the legacy of long-standing satellites with the…

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Feature Articles

Read stories about the history and accomplishments of current and former NASA Earth Science missions, programs, field campaigns, and outreach events, as well as a variety of other topics of interest to NASA Earth Science past, present, and future.

The Earth Observer: Offering Perspectives from Space through Time
38 min read

An Intertwined History: The Earth Observer and EOS The Earth Observer, a newsletter issued for nearly 37 years, will release its last online content at the close of 2025. This newsletter evolved in parallel with NASA’s Earth Observing System (EOS).…

Terra: The End of An Era
27 min read

Introduction Launched into the night sky more than 26 years ago, on Dec. 18, 1999, from Vandenberg Air Force Base (now Space Force Base), Terra was NASA’s first Earth Observing System (EOS) flagship mission to study Earth’s land surface from…

OPERA: Addressing Societal Needs with Satellite Data
5 min read

Introduction The Observational Products for End-Users from Remote Sensing Analysis (OPERA) project represents a strategic initiative designed to address critical satellite data needs identified by federal agencies. Established in 2021 by the NASA/Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), OPERA responds to priorities…

Meeting Summaries

Read reports on Earth Science mission and instrument Science Team meetings, on science and applications workshops, and on other science meetings taking place both within NASA Earth Science and in the broader national and international Earth science communities.

The State of CERES: Updates and Highlights
42 min read

Introduction The Clouds and the Earth’s Radiant Energy System (CERES) was initially designed in the late-1980s and early-1990s as a…

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Keeping Up with PACE: Summary of the 2025 PAC3 Meeting
12 min read

Introduction Launched in Feb. 2024, NASA’s Plankton, Aerosol, Cloud, ocean Ecosystem (PACE) mission is a cornerstone of Earth system science…

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Summary of the 11th ABoVE Science Team Meeting
21 min read

Introduction The NASA Arctic–Boreal Vulnerability Experiment (ABoVE) is a large-scale ecological study in the northern regions of North America (Alaska…

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Earth Science Meeting and Workshop Calendars

NASA Community

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    Check back here for future NASA Community Meetings and Workshops

NASA Calendar Grid

Global Science Community

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    December 15–19, 2025
    American Geophysical Union 2025 Fall Meeting (AGU25)

    New Orleans, LA

    Explore

NASA Calendar Grid
Earth Observer Fall Leaves

The Global Learning and Observations to Benefit the Environment (GLOBE) Program is calling on volunteers of all ages to help students and citizen scientists document seasonal change through leaf color and land cover. The data collection event will support students across North America, Latin America, Central America, and Europe, who are working together to document the seasonal changes taking place from September through December. The observations will also provide vital data for GLOBE students creating student research projects for the GLOBE 2025 International Virtual Science Symposium (IVSS). The project is part of GLOBE’s Intensive Observation Period (IOP), which collects data during a focused period to assess how climate change is unfolding in different regions of the world.
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separater line
The main banner background image shown above is of the Atchafalaya Delta in Louisiana, taken by Landsat 8 on Dec. 1, 2016. This false-color image emphasizes the difference between land and water, while allowing viewers to observe waterborne sediment.
Credit: NASA Earth Observatory

Earth Observer Staff

Steven Platnick Pic

EOS Senior Project Scientist

Alan Ward Pic

Executive Editor

Dalia Kirshenblat Pic

Managing Editor

Doug Bennett Pic

Associate Editor

Mike Marosy Pic

Design/Production

Stacy Kish Pic

Assistant/Technical Editor

Ernie Hilsenrath Staff Pic

Technical Editor

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