Earth from Space: Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum

Spectacular images using the latest satellite-imaging technologies.

With thousands of orbiting satellites regularly sending back computer-generated images, no place on Earth is isolated -- the Himalayas are as easy to photograph as Manhattan. In addition to providing data that is vital for science and new technologies, satellite images can also be appreciated for their astonishing beauty.

The newest generation of satellites is extraordinarily powerful and accurate, recording the effects of human and natural forces and showing how Earth continues to change over time. Earth from Space explains how satellite imaging works and showcases some of the most remarkable photos of the planet ever produced.

Along with clearly written background sections and informative captions, Earth from Space includes hundreds of stunning images, including:

• Coastal ports and major world cities
• Military installations such as submarine fleets
• Rebuilding lower Manhattan and the Pentagon after 9/11/01
• Landscapes of wars -- including those in Iraq and Iran
• Rainforests, wetlands, coral reefs, rivers and mountains
• The devastating effects of deforestation and desertification.

Fully revised and updated, Earth from Space covers a world of subjects -- from aeronautics to ecology to commerce -- through unforgettable images.

Andrew K. Johnston is a geographer at the Center for Earth and Planetary Studies, a research department in the National Air and Space Museum, Smithsonian Institution.