NASA Releases the First Ever ‘Blue Marble’ Image of the Whole North Pole — How Many Countries Can You Spot?
- Posted on June 19, 2012 at 1:52pm by
Liz Klimas
- Print »
- Email »
You may think you’re pretty familiar with what pictures of the North Pole as seen from space look like, but most likely, you’ve only seen a part of it.
For the first time, NASA has released a “Blue Marble” image of the whole Arctic region.
(Related: Check out NASA‘s highest resolution image of the ’Blue Marble’)
The first ever whole picture of the North Pole from space to this level of detail. (Photo: NASA/GSFC/Suomi NPP)
According to NASA, it took 15 orbits of the Suomi NPP satellite to collect enough images to comprise the whole North Pole to the level of detail needed. The Suomi NPP is considered NASA’s next-generation satellite that will eventually take over for the aging Earth Observing System. Suomi NPP, which is operated in partnership with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, orbits Earth 14 times each day.
The image was taken from 512 miles above the North Pole. As Mashable points out, at the highest resolution possible, the image shows arctic ice sheets, London, Great Bear Lake in Canada, but not Santa’s Workshop.
(H/T: Gizmodo)
Popular Stories
Does Misstated Marathon Claim Prove Paul Ryan Is Dishonest? (POLL) 707 Comments
Paper Details Obama Admin’s Alleged Secret Note Sent to Iran: If Israel Attacks, We Won’t Get Involved 560 Comments
‘Made Up Religion’: TV Historian Enrages Muslims, Receives Threats After Producing UK Documentary Questioning Islam’s Beginnings 378 Comments
This Is the Creationists‘ Response to Scientist Bill Nye’s Viral Pro-Evolution Video Claiming They Harm Children 370 Comments
Roseanne Barr: Most Billionaires ‘Violent Pedophiles’ & ‘Heartless’ Cocaine Addicts 363 Comments
Faith
- This Is the Creationists‘ Response to Scientist Bill Nye’s Viral Pro-Evolution Video Claiming They Harm Children 370 Comments
Pakistani Muslim Cleric Accused of Framing Disabled Christian Girl in Koran-Burning Case Read More- ‘Made Up Religion’: TV Historian Enrages Muslims, Receives Threats After Producing UK Documentary Questioning Islam’s Beginnings 378 Comments
Meet the Controversial German Imam Accused of Brutally Beating His Wife & Pushing Sharia Law Read More
‘Self-Proclaimed Messiah’ & Unification Church Leader the Rev. Sun Myung Moon Has Died — Here’s His Life Story Read More
Business
- President Obama Issues Major ‘Green Energy’ Executive Order 299 Comments
- Germany’s Upcoming Court Ruling Will be Huge for the EU Read More
Ford Looks to Beat Toyota for Best-Selling Car in 2012 With This Model 149 Comments
Bernanke & QE3: Here’s What You Need to Know Read More- ‘Extortion’: Why Did the Labor Department ‘Drop the Hammer’ on Oregon Farmers? 302 Comments
Technology
- This Is the Creationists‘ Response to Scientist Bill Nye’s Viral Pro-Evolution Video Claiming They Harm Children 370 Comments
‘TaserDrone’: Hackers Weaponize Quadcopter With Actual ‘Shocking’ Technology Read More
Ever Heard of the Wild ‘Burning Man’ Festival in the Middle of the Nev. Desert? Here’s Your Primer Read More
Stanford Develops Technology ‘Better Than Steroids’ for Athlete Recovery Read More
Have You Pretended to Know What ‘the Cloud’ Is? You’re Not Alone Read More
Submitting your tip... please wait!
Comments (42)
pooterskooter
Posted on June 19, 2012 at 6:36pmI see “EVERYTHING” very….clearly, but can‘t see Obama’s “57 States”, (according to HIM), I didn’t know Hawaii was in Asia until I heard him say it was during a Summit Meeting while visiting in Hawaii.. Did he actually live there, and NOT know that it wasn’t? Maybe he was smoking CRACK with his ol` buddies again just like old times. (???).
Report Post »kapnkd
Posted on June 19, 2012 at 6:17pmIt would be interesting to watch the weather patterns as they do a 360 degree cycle.
Would it improve forecasting over simply watching and predicting weather one continent at a time???
Report Post »frogg
Posted on June 19, 2012 at 5:49pmIf you look real close you can just barely see the white ice in the blue Artic ocean. Yep Global warming for sure!!!!!!!! BDuh!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Funny how a picture is worth a Million words isn’t it?
Report Post »Xavier_Holden
Posted on June 19, 2012 at 5:22pmIf you look real close, you can see a polar bear falling off a floating piece of ice. Poor, Poor polar bear.
I hear they taste like chicken!
Report Post »kapnkd
Posted on June 19, 2012 at 6:21pmPoor bear, he slipped and fell onto his “Ice Hole”!!!!!!!!!!!
Report Post »snakeoilforsale
Posted on June 19, 2012 at 5:16pmI thought the Earth was responsible for global warming- could be my flawed memory, but…. 8000 years ago or so… wasn’t there an Ice Age going on? I say we blame the Egyptians!!! Stupid pyramids have caused nothing but hate for the enviroment ever since.
Report Post »MrObvious
Posted on June 19, 2012 at 11:14pmlol …
Don’t forget, it’s all caused by burning fossil fuels – that came from all those dead dinos.
Wow that’s got to be a whole lot of dinos. I wonder how many trillions of dinos we’ve pumped by now. Couldn’t be that the Russian chemists were right about how the earth actually produces this stuff, as a side effect of plate tectonics, volcanism, and catalytic reactions under intense heat and pressure, could it?
Meanwhile, one volcano can spit more CO2 in one burp than the entire human race has, from the time we made our first fire.
And the EPA’s first official green fraud case against a bio fuel company, that didn’t make anything. They just sold bio credits, to fossil fuel companies.
Ah, can’t you just feel the earth cooling down already. Were saved. Thanks EPA.
One more reason Obama Must Go.
Report Post »OMG 2012
Melvin Spittle
Posted on June 19, 2012 at 4:23pmPoor Al Gore and his alarmingly large, yet insignificant band of eco-witch hunters. One question for the Gaia worshiping high-priest Al Gore: Congratulations! You have mobilized the first wave of public edu…I mean indoctrinated bots by convincing them of man’s leading role in global climate change! Not one of the bots ever questioned the ludicrous theory because they have no critical thinking skills: Those were removed or never developed during the indoctrination process.
http://youtu.be/ujBi9Ba8hqs
To the Gaia worshiping cult of the ecoverse: I fully expect the video will not resonate in your vacuous head space where your last two brain cells are engaged in a battle to the death. In other words, you act on you collective Gore incited emotional rage to direct your actions in the absence of the ability to reason. When you believe that man himself is the supreme source of intelligence, this is what you get. You silly little people.
Report Post »NOBALONEY
Posted on June 19, 2012 at 4:01pmIs this an artist drawing?
Report Post »mastice
Posted on June 19, 2012 at 5:24pmOnly if you believe in climate change… why? Because then you can say it‘s merely propaganda to continue to ’beat down climate science’ or some such nonsense.
But to answer your question – no it is not an artists drawing. It’s a high resolution image from various satellite images.
Report Post »bullcrapbuster
Posted on June 19, 2012 at 3:38pmIf you look real close you can see the doorway to the centre of the earth.
Report Post »LetUsReason
Posted on June 19, 2012 at 5:38pmI was looking, actually. Dang clouds.
Report Post »RougeFastFingers
Posted on June 19, 2012 at 3:34pmNo open artic water makes baby Al Gore cry.
Report Post »Micmac
Posted on June 19, 2012 at 2:49pmWherrrreeee is the global warming?
NoBama 2012
Report Post »Navyveteran
Posted on June 19, 2012 at 3:52pmthe global warming is all covered by the cloud cover. If not for the clouds you would see all ocean because of all the ice melt. ;) end of sarc
Report Post »Tom
Posted on June 19, 2012 at 2:49pmThat is a racist photo and a representation of American imperialism don’t you all see…. its clear as day….. the US is on top and the mooslames on the bottom Its Bush and Romneys fault but don’t worry Barrack Hussain will mandate the change in his next term.
Report Post »Eric_The_Red_State
Posted on June 19, 2012 at 2:48pm<——— YOU ARE HERE
a
Report Post »Fus Patrol
Posted on June 19, 2012 at 2:46pmHmmmm, sure looks line there is plenty of ice up there! Don’t think the ice caps are melting, global climate change is a farce.
Report Post »Anonymous T. Irrelevant
Posted on June 19, 2012 at 2:46pmHey, I have seen the movies. Santa’s workshop is underground.
Report Post »I can’t believe it has taken so long to get a view of the top of the world.
SREGN
Posted on June 19, 2012 at 2:44pmI see London, I see France…….
Report Post »moreteaplease
Posted on June 19, 2012 at 2:29pmSure looks beautiful from a distance.
Report Post »HorseCrazy
Posted on June 19, 2012 at 2:19pmgorgeous. I recommend the daily nasa emails to anyone who loves a little glimpse of space. They email a photo (i received this one today) each morning. gives you a break to reflect on how small our problems worries etc really are. the outstanding views of from their telescopes are really quite breathtaking.
Report Post »KickinBack
Posted on June 19, 2012 at 2:18pmNo clouds over Britain? Must be a fake… :)
Report Post »randy
Posted on June 19, 2012 at 2:15pmGee, looks like a lot of unmelted ice up there.
Report Post »CatB
Posted on June 19, 2012 at 2:32pmYup … and that is hiding Santa’s Workshop too …. “but not Santa’s Workshop.” ;-)
Report Post »ltdan
Posted on June 19, 2012 at 2:14pmHs anyone really looked at a globe? 2/3 is ocean and half of the other 1/3 is inhabitable so how is man responsible for global warming?
Report Post »Gonzo
Posted on June 19, 2012 at 3:12pmAll men aren’t responsible for global warming. According to Obama, it’s just the Republicans.
Report Post »iBeliever
Posted on June 19, 2012 at 2:10pmGOD created it ALL……. if you don’t believe it your a FOOL
Report Post »moreteaplease
Posted on June 19, 2012 at 2:29pmAmen!
Report Post »Conservative-Atheist
Posted on June 19, 2012 at 3:39pmEven a story like this draws the venom of some religious folks. Quite sad really.
Report Post »Meyvn
Posted on June 19, 2012 at 5:39pmVenom? Conservative-Atheist is the only one spewing venom.
Report Post »katie5
Posted on June 19, 2012 at 2:06pmIt‘s Bush’s fault.
Report Post »TEARS FOR AMERICA
Posted on June 19, 2012 at 2:05pmIsrael, the center of the earth, looks pretty good to me…
Report Post »Tri-ox
Posted on June 19, 2012 at 2:04pmAnd exactly how does this fit into (obama’s) NASA’s “primary mission” of “muslim outreach”? Are obama’s muslims planning on seizing control of the entire area shown in this photo?
Report Post »JACKTHETOAD
Posted on June 19, 2012 at 2:01pmHome, sweet home.
Report Post »