Remember the movie “Men in Black”, where Agent Kay looked through an orbital camera at his beloved watering flowers in the courtyard? The opportunity to see what our Earth looks like from a satellite in real time attracts people from all over the world. Today we will tell you - and show you! - the best fruits of modern Earth observation technologies.
Attention! If you see a dark screen, it means the cameras are in the shadows. Screensaver or gray screen - no signal.
Usually we only get static satellite maps, frozen in time - the details are not updated for years, and an eternal summer day reigns outside. Isn't it interesting to see how beautiful the Earth is from a satellite online in winter or at night? In addition, the quality of images of some regions of Russia and the CIS leaves much to be desired. But now all this can be solved in one fell swoop - thanks to , Earth online from a satellite in real time is no longer science fiction. Right on this page you can join thousands of people who are now observing the planet.
At an altitude of 400 kilometers above the planet, where the station is permanently located, NASA installed one developed by private companies. The astronauts themselves or at the commands of the Mission Control Center direct the cameras from which data is transmitted. Thanks to manual control, we can see what the Earth looks like from a satellite online from all sides - its atmosphere, mountains, cities and oceans. And the mobility of the station allows you to view half of the globe in an hour.
How does the broadcast happen?
Thanks to the fact that the cameras are located at the International Station, even minor details are visible to us, which are commented on by scientists, astronauts and professional journalists. However, our Earth is visible online from a satellite in real time thanks to the work of a whole complex of people and machines - in addition to the already mentioned astronauts and the Control Center, the process involves satellite communication transmission technologies, solar power batteries and technical specialists involved in data translation and decoding. Accordingly, the broadcast has its own nuances - knowing them will help you see more and better understand what is happening on the screen.
Our observation point, the orbital station, moves at enormous speed - almost 28 thousand kilometers per hour, and circles the Earth in 90-92 minutes. Half of this time, 45 minutes, the station hangs on the night side. And although on approach the solar panels of the cameras can be powered by sunset light, in the depths the electricity disappears - therefore it is not always available from the satellite. At such moments, the broadcast screen turns gray; Just wait a little and you will be watching the sunrise with the astronauts.
In order to find the best time for observations, you will need our special satellite map of the Earth - it marks not only the time of passage of the space station, but also its exact position. This way you can find out when to see your city from space heights, or find a station in the sky with binoculars or a telescope!
We have already mentioned that astronauts and ground control can change the aiming of cameras - they perform not only an entertaining, but also a scientific function. At such moments, planet Earth is not accessible from a satellite in real time - a black or blue screensaver appears on the screen, or already captured moments are repeated. If there are no interruptions in satellite communications, the station is located on the day side of the planet, and the background suddenly changes, then the cameras are filming areas inaccessible to the public due to international treaties. Secret objects and forbidden territories are closed on static maps, skillfully hidden by photo editors or simply erased. All that remains is to wait for the moment when the situation in the world relaxes, and there will be no secrets from ordinary citizens.
Hidden Features
But don't be upset if the camera isn't working right now! When planet Earth cannot be shown online from satellite, astronauts and NASA find other entertainment for viewers. You will see life inside the International Space Station, astronauts in zero gravity, who talk about their work and what kind of satellite view of the Earth will be shown next. They even allow you to look into the impressively large Mission Control Center. The only negative is that even the speech of Russian cosmonauts is translated into English so that it can be understood by the American employees who manage the Center. It is currently not possible to turn off translation. Also, don’t be surprised by the silence - comments are not always appropriate, and there is no constant sound accompaniment yet.
For those who predict the route of cameras using the capabilities provided by a real-time satellite map of the Earth, we have advice - check the date and time settings on your computer. The server that updates the map uses the given International Station motion formula and the time zone of your IP address to predict the position of the orbital cameras. The online map judges what the Earth looks like from a satellite solely based on the device’s time. If your clock is slow or fast relative to the time zone, the station will move east or west accordingly. The use of proxy servers and anonymizers will also affect the results.
Live broadcast of NASA TV channel
You are a participant in a scientific program
You've probably noticed that the quality of the picture of planet Earth from space and the live satellite broadcast often changes - the image is covered with squares or lags behind the audio track. In most cases, it is enough to check the speed of your Internet connection, disable other videos and programs for downloading files, or click on the HD button in the broadcast window. However, even if there are interruptions, it is worth remembering that the planet can only be seen alive thanks to a large-scale scientific experiment.
Yes, yes - the video on this page is transmitted for a reason. The cameras installed on the International Space Station are part of the High Definition Earth Viewing program, which is still being improved and developed. The cameras are installed by astronauts in conditions isolated from cold and dust, but they are exposed to harsh radiation from the outside. Scientists are experimenting with the difficulties of continuous data transmission in space, ensuring that a map of the Earth from a satellite in good quality exists not only motionless, but also living, dynamic. The results will help improve existing channels and create new ones - even in Mars orbit in the foreseeable future.
So let's stay in touch - new things appear in the world of space every day!
The Google satellite interactive map is a free service from the well-known Google corporation.
The service provides access to verified cartographic information from almost any region of the planet, including the location and purpose of objects.
In this case, the display occurs in several modes and without advertisements and other unnecessary data.
Google created the service using satellite views and collected photographs of the Earth's surface.
The result is a service like Google Earth - without some features, but working online.
Working with the map
When working with Google Maps, there are several options for presenting information:
- In the usual form, reminiscent of an automobile atlas, with the names of settlements, streets and other objects;
- A satellite map shown not in real time, but in the form of photos from space taken some time ago (images are constantly updated). In this case, street names, house numbers and other information from the map are superimposed on top of the images.
Switching modes is done using the icon in the lower left corner of the map.
Previously, there were three modes, including a regular satellite photo without captions, but the service abandoned the last option, combining it with a regular map.
Although names can still be disabled by selecting “Hide names” in the service menu.
The scale of the maps is based on the Mercator projection and remains constant. This means that as you approach the equator, the distances between the meridians increase.
Linking to the Google Maps globe is carried out using a similar service - Google Earth.
Detailed maps exist only for large populated areas.
For suburban areas and, especially, uninhabited areas, there are practically no clear photographs, and the resolution of the photographs is lower. Sometimes the area is hidden by clouds or their shadows.
Interface Features
The service works using search queries. The entered keyword is compared with the markers on the map, and if a match is found, an image of the found location is displayed on the screen.
At the same time, in addition to the map, the weather forecast is shown, and the opportunity to view photos and panoramic images of the surrounding area (if available) is provided.
The picture switches to atlas mode in the same way.
A route planning service can also be useful, thanks to which you can find out:
- What routes can you take to get to the specified place?
- Distance from one point to another;
- Travel time by personal and public transport;
- Numbers of buses or metro stations that can be used to travel the required distance.
Using the navigation panel, you can adjust the high quality and accuracy of the image. And right while using any other function of the service.
If necessary, the image can be shown in a different projection - side view. And the routes are chosen using not only vehicles, but also bicycles.
Information about moving from one point to another on foot is also available.
Possibilities
Among the additional features of the service is the ability to view the chronology of your movements - unless, of course, the application is built into the desktop browser, but is installed on a mobile gadget or laptop.
In this case, Google maps will allow you to view all visits since the installation of the program.
In addition, for a mobile gadget, the Google Maps service provides the ability to download offline maps of Russia or another country.
Thus, even if you find yourself without a connection, but with a smartphone or tablet, you can use map data, although without reference to the area.
All this is available for both iOS and Android devices.
If you still have the Internet, you can see online not only routes and objects, but also see, for example, where the nearest gas station is and even the price of fuel.
A traffic jam search function is available for populated areas. It even provides details such as traffic density and possible detour routes.
Advice! The option will be useful for traveling to and from work, and when planning an out-of-town trip.
Traffic viewing service
Two Google Maps - diagram and satellite
Hello, dear friends of the portal site!
Two Google Maps (Scheme and Satellite), which can be used to compare any object in any city (street, house) and country in the world. Visibility of a geographical object on the map and view from space (Google satellite map), street panorama (drag the orange man onto the diagram)
Just type the required address in the Google Maps search form. This could be the name of a country, city, street. For a more accurate search, we recommend combining your Google query
Example: Moscow Tverskaya 11, or another address in Moscow (as in any city in the world)
In this case, the Google Maps 2019 database will correctly match the coordinates with the address you typed. Believe me, it will do no worse than +showing interesting and popular places in the world. This sufficiently guarantees the output of the exact location of the search object
By default, two maps show the sunny city of Los Angeles (satellite view and regular one). By changing the suggested scale +/-, you can take a closer look at each street with houses (Los Angeles)
The City of Angels is the second most populous city in the United States. Disneyland (Anaheim) and the Hollywood sign are also located there. By zooming out on the satellite map from the satellite (-), you will witness an interesting metamorphosis. All that's left is to try. Street photos (satellite images) and panoramic views are also available on both maps
By the way, you can find Disneyland itself at these coordinates. Copy Ctrl+C and paste into the search form Ctrl+V
33.810781,-117.918978
Similar interesting things await here when you zoom out (-). By zooming the diagram to the maximum, you can also use the Google Maps “Arrow Spin” tool (appears above the zoom tool).
Also in Los Angeles is the Google office at Los Angeles 340 Main Street (type that to search). One of 70 offices in 40 countries around the world
In some cases, you need to compare two different objects in the same view. Let's say you look at the desired street on a map of the city of Moscow from a satellite - or pictures of roads and squares. First, we find the capital of Russia on the map. Previously, they were able to determine the latitude and longitude of any city in the world. Then switch the map from above to the “Satellite” view (lower left corner). The map in Russian below will remain as is. This is how it looks like to compare two Google Maps:
⬇ List: popular and interesting places on Google Maps (new ones are being added):
- Zaryadye Park, Moscow 55.751085, 37.628765
- Belarus, Brest Fortress 52.082599, 23.655529
- Berlin, Reichstag 52.518712, 13.376100
- Himalayas, Everest 27.989302, 86.925040
- Baikonur Cosmodrome 45.996389, 63.563907
- Mexico, Aztec city 19.692850, -98.843856
- Monte Carlo, embankment 43.734819, 7.421430
- Rio de Janeiro, Jesus Christ statue -22.952264, -43.210662
- Statue “Motherland”, Kyiv 50.426760, 30.563044
- Statue “Motherland”, Mamayev Kurgan, Volgograd 48.742342, 44.537109
- Petronas Towers Malaysia 3.157933, 101.711846
- London "Big Ben" 51.501021, -0.124660
- France, Channel Tunnel 50.922493, 1.781868
- Australia, Sydney, Opera House -33.856716, 151.215294
- UAE Dubai, artificial islands 25.114663, 55.139036
To observe the Earth's surface for free and view satellite images online, you can use several applications. In Russia, two of them are most popular: Google Maps and Yandex Maps. Both services boast good quality high-resolution satellite images from most countries.
Yandex maps is an online application from Russian developers, so Russian cities are more accurately detailed in it. It has built-in functionality for viewing traffic load data (large settlements), demographic and geodata. Google maps have equally high-quality satellite images of the territory of the Russian Federation, but data on land plots and traffic are available only for the United States.
View a map of Planet Earth from satellite online
Below you can see the Google map built into the site. For more stable operation of the plugin, we recommend using the Google Chrome browser. If you see an error message, please update the specified plugin and then reload the page.
Watch Google Earth from satellite, in real time online:
Another advantage of Google Maps is the presence of a client application for working with satellite images. This means that the service can be accessed not only through a browser, but also through a pre-downloaded program. It has many more opportunities for viewing and studying satellite images and working with a three-dimensional virtual globe.
A 3D satellite map from Google (a downloadable application, not an online version) allows you to:
- use a quick search for the desired objects by name or coordinates;
- take screenshots and record high quality videos;
- work offline (preliminary synchronization via the Internet is required);
- use a flight simulator for more convenient movement between objects;
- save “favorite places” to quickly move between them;
- view not only the Earth's surface, but also images of other celestial bodies (Mars, Moon, etc.).
You can work with Google satellite maps through a client application or browser. A plugin is available on the official page of the program that allows you to use an interactive map on any web resource. It is enough to embed its address in the site’s program code. For display, you can select either the entire surface or a specific area (you will have to enter the coordinates). Control - using a computer mouse and keyboard (ctrl+mouse wheel for zooming, cursor for moving) or using the icons indicated on the map (“plus” - zoom in, “minus” - zoom out, move with the cursor).
The Google Earth service in real time allows you to work with several types of maps, each of which reflects certain data on satellite images. It’s convenient to switch between them “without losing progress” (the program remembers where you “were”). Available viewing modes:
- landscape map from satellite (geographical objects, features of the Earth's surface);
- physical map (detailed satellite images of the surface, cities, streets, their names);
- a schematic geographical map for a more accurate study of surface images.
The satellite image is automatically loaded at the point of approach, so a stable Internet connection is required for operation. To use Google Earth offline, you need to download the application for Windows or another operating system. Its operation also requires the Internet, but only for the first launch, after which the program synchronizes all the necessary data (satellite images of the surface, 3D models of buildings, names of geographical and other objects) after which it will be possible to work with the received data without direct access to the Internet.
Many users would like to enjoy satellite photos of their native places, to see their house, a nearby river or forest from above, in a word, everything that is commonly called “small Motherland”. A tool for realizing this desire can be satellite mapping services, which provide a unique opportunity to view all required geolocations in detailed graphic mode. After my attempts to look at my home online from a satellite, I found really high-quality services and in this article I will share my experiences.
There is a huge variety of mapping services on the Internet that provide the user with access to high-resolution satellite maps. At the same time, the vast majority of such services use the API from Google Maps, and only a few services (including the domestic Yandex.Maps) can boast of their own cartographic developments that differ from the dominant Google maps in this segment.
At the same time, working with such cards is quite formulaic. You go to one of them, turn on satellite display if necessary, and then enter your address (town, street, house number) into the search bar. After this, the service finds the required location, and you can use the mouse wheel to increase or decrease the existing display. If for some reason the service does not find your house, I recommend entering the name of the city (town, village) and street, and then find the desired house yourself using the mouse.
At the same time, some services allow you not only to see your house from above, but also to walk along the streets of your hometown and enjoy the view of the buildings you need up close.
Let's move on to the list of services that will help us see our home from satellite.
Google Maps - look at your home from satellite in real time
The most popular global mapping resource is undoubtedly Google Maps. In addition to maps presented in schematic and satellite form, the service also includes the ability to 360° view the streets of many cities around the world (Street View). Information about street traffic and traffic jams (Google Traffic), a route planner from point A to point B, 3D display of many geographical points, and other useful features.
There are two main options to view your home:
Yandex.Maps - will allow you to see the necessary object in Russia
Another mapping service with which you can enjoy the view of your home is Yandex.Maps. This service is the most popular in Russia, since the level of display of the territory of Russia and the frequency of updating data for the Russian Federation exceeds all existing analogues, including generally accepted maps from Google.
Like the Google Maps service, Yandex.Maps can boast of both standard and satellite display of maps (as well as the “Hybrid” mode, which involves applying various text and schematic markings on a satellite map). In addition, users have access to a street display mode (“Yandex.Panoramas”), a traffic congestion indicator (“Yandex.Traffic”), as well as the “People’s Map” crowdsourcing system, which can be edited by any user.
To view your home using Yandex.Maps, go to the resource, enter your address in the search bar at the top, and press enter. To switch to street view mode, click on the button with binoculars at the bottom of the screen (street panoramas and photographs). And then select one of the streets marked in blue (you will switch to the street view mode at this point, and you will be able to enjoy the color of these places).
Bing.Maps – satellite map from Microsoft
Bing.Maps is an online mapping service from Microsoft, formerly known as Windows Live Maps and MSN Virtual Earth. Its capabilities include satellite display of maps, street view, 3D display for 60 cities around the world, plotting the optimal route and other features that are standard for services of this type.
To watch your home using Bing.Maps, go to the specified service, click on “Road” on the right, and select “Hybrid View”. Then enter the address you need into the search bar and view the view that opens.
MapQuest is a popular American mapping service
"MapQuest" (translated as “Card Search”) is a free American mapping service, the second most popular in the United States after Google Maps. The resource boasts a high degree of detail on the streets of many countries around the world, will help you plot a convenient route, inform you about existing traffic, and much more.
To work with it, you need to go to this resource, click on the button with the image of the globe on the right (Satelite), which will allow you to switch to satellite display mode. After that, in the search bar on the left, enter the address you need (preferably in Latin), and enjoy displaying the desired location using the MapQuest service.
MapQuest is the second most popular service in the United States Conclusion
You can view your home from satellite using the services I listed in this material. For the territory of Russia, I would recommend the Yandex.Maps service - the level of detail and frequency of updated data inspires us to consider maps from Yandex the best mapping service in the Russian Federation. On a global scale, the Google Maps service is the undisputed leader, so it would be optimal to use the tools of this service to display maps of many countries around the world.