Images of the sunlit side of Earth captured by NASA's EPIC camera aboard the DSCOVR satellite, stationed at Lagrange Point 1, approximately one million miles from Earth.
The Deep Space Climate Observatory (DSCOVR) is a joint mission between NASA, NOAA, and the U.S. Air Force, launched on February 11, 2015 aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket. It occupies a unique vantage point at the Sun-Earth Lagrange Point 1 (L1), roughly 1.5 million kilometers from Earth. At this gravitational sweet spot, the satellite remains in a stable orbit between Earth and the Sun, continuously observing Earth's sunlit hemisphere.
The EPIC (Earth Polychromatic Imaging Camera) instrument aboard DSCOVR captures full-disc color images of the sunlit side of Earth multiple times per day. Using a 30-centimeter telescope and a 2048 x 2048 pixel CCD detector, EPIC images Earth in 10 narrowband channels spanning the ultraviolet to near-infrared spectrum (317 nm to 780 nm). These multispectral observations allow scientists to monitor ozone concentrations, aerosol particle properties, cloud height and thickness, vegetation health indices, and UV radiation levels at Earth's surface.
Beyond EPIC, DSCOVR carries the NISTAR instrument (National Institute of Standards and Technology Advanced Radiometer), which measures Earth's total radiant energy output, and a plasma magnetometer that provides real-time solar wind data. This solar wind monitoring serves as an early warning system for geomagnetic storms, giving forecasters 15 to 60 minutes of advance notice before solar wind disturbances reach Earth. Explore the solar activity dashboard to see current space weather conditions.
EPIC's imagery has contributed to numerous discoveries, including tracking the movement of shadows cast by the Moon during solar eclipses, monitoring massive dust plumes crossing the Atlantic from the Sahara Desert, and observing the progression of wildfires and volcanic eruptions. You can also explore Earth in our Solar System explorer or track the International Space Station as it orbits above.
DSCOVR's position at L1 is particularly valuable because it provides a continuous, uninterrupted view of Earth's sunlit hemisphere — a perspective no other satellite can replicate. Low-Earth-orbit satellites like Landsat and Terra see only narrow swaths at a time, while geostationary satellites observe one hemisphere but from much closer. EPIC's distant vantage produces truly global images showing entire weather systems, continental-scale cloud formations, and the terminator line between day and night. Scientists use EPIC data to calibrate other satellite instruments, validate climate models, and study Earth's energy balance by comparing incoming solar radiation (measured by NISTAR) with outgoing reflected and emitted energy. The data is also used in educational outreach, providing stunning "blue marble" imagery that inspires public interest in Earth science. Browse the NASA gallery for more imagery, or check today's Astronomy Picture of the Day.
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