Real Time Monitoring: Satellite View Apps to Explore Your City
Have you ever wondered what your city looks like from space? With the help of satellite view apps, you can now explore your location from a whole new perspective. They allow you to view satellite images of your city in real time and can also provide you with information about different landmarks and features.
There are several different satellite viewing apps available, so you can choose the one that best suits your needs. And in the following article you will learn about the main apps and more curiosities on the subject. Let’s go!
Real-time satellite monitoring application
As we have seen, satellite apps allow you to view Earth from space, explore different locations and learn about the planet. Here are some of the top apps you’ll learn about in this article:
- Google Earth
- Google Maps
- Satellite Earth map live
- Mapillary
- EarthViewer
- Zoom Earth
- Bing Maps
01. Google Earth
Google Earth is a virtual globe that lets you explore the Earth in 3D. Offers high-resolution satellite imagery, aerial photography, and 3D models of landmarks and buildings. You can use it to explore any location on the planet, including your own city.
The platform was first launched in 2001 and has since become one of the most popular mapping applications in the world, being used by individuals, businesses and governments for a variety of purposes. To download to your device:
02. Google Maps
Google Maps is a web mapping service developed by Google. It offers satellite imagery, street maps and 360° panoramic views of streets in many cities around the world. Users can also view live traffic conditions, find businesses and other points of interest, and get directions.
The platform is available on the web as well as on mobile devices through the Google Maps application. It was first launched in 2005 and has since become one of the most popular mapping services in the world and is used by individuals, businesses and governments for a variety of purposes. To download to your device:
03. Live Satellite Earth map
Live Earth Satellite Map is a website that provides live satellite images of Earth. It updates every few minutes and offers a variety of viewing options including 3D mode.
The platform was developed by a team of Brazilian developers and was first launched in 2016. Since then, it has become one of the most popular live satellite imagery websites in the world.
Live Earth Satellite Map offers a number of features that make it a valuable tool for anyone interested in exploring Earth from space. To download:
04. Mapillary
Mapillary is a mapping platform that collects street-level imagery from users’ smartphones. These images can be used to create 3D models of cities and to improve the accuracy of Google Maps and other mapping services. It was founded in 2013 by a team of Swedish engineers and has since grown to over 1 million users who have contributed over 100 million images.
And Mapillary’s technology uses computer vision to stitch individual images together into a perfect 3D model. This model can be used to create a more accurate and up-to-date view of the world than traditional satellite imagery. This is a free service available to everyone.
05. EarthViewer
EarthViewer is a free online tool that allows you to view satellite images, aerial photographs and 3D models of the Earth. It offers a variety of features, including the ability to measure distances and areas and create custom maps.
The platform was developed by the Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI) and was first launched in 2012. It is used by students, researchers and the general public to learn about the Earth and its environment.
In addition, EarthViewer offers several features that make it a valuable tool for anyone interested in exploring the Earth. These features include:
06. Zoom Earth
Zoom Earth is a free online mapping service that provides high-resolution satellite imagery, weather maps and other data for the entire globe. It was founded in 2009 by a team of engineers and scientists who wanted to make satellite imagery more accessible to the public.
Its platform offers several features that make it a valuable tool for anyone interested in exploring Earth. These features include:
- High resolution satellite images
- Weather maps; It is
- Other data
Zoom Earth is a free service available to everyone. You can access it through its official website.
If you are interested in exploring Earth, I encourage you to try Zoom Earth. It’s a powerful tool that can be used to learn about the planet and explore different locations.
07. Bing Maps
Bing Maps is a web mapping service provided as part of Microsoft’s suite of Bing search engines. It has Google Maps-like features, including satellite imagery, street maps, and 360-degree panoramic views. It also offers some unique features like the ability to view traffic conditions and locate businesses.
The platform is available on the web as well as on mobile devices through the Bing Maps app.
Major Satellites in the World
There are many different types of satellites in orbit around the Earth, each with its own unique purpose. Some of the best known and most important in the world are:
- Landsat 7
- Brasilsat B
- Earth
- Meteosat
- Inmarsat 3
- GPS
- DSP
Landsat 7
Landsat 7 is a US Earth observation satellite launched on April 15, 1999. It is the seventh satellite in the Landsat series and continues to collect data to this day. It carries a multispectral scanner that can image the globe in seven bands of visible and infrared light. The satellite also has a panchromatic band that can image the Earth in a single band with a terrestrial resolution of 15 meters.
Brasilsat B
Brasilsat B was a Brazilian geostationary communications satellite operated by Embratel. It was launched on August 10, 1994 by an Ariane 44LP rocket from the Guiana Space Center in French Guiana. Brasilsat B was the first of the four satellites in the Brasilsat B series.
It carried 28 C-band transponders and 6 Ku-band transponders. It was used to provide telecommunications services to Brazil, including television, telephone and data transmission. Brasilsat B was retired on June 2, 2021 and replaced by Star One C2.
Earth
Terra is an Earth observation satellite launched by NASA in 1999. It is part of NASA’s Earth Observation System (EOS) and is one of the most important Earth observation satellites in orbit. It carries five instruments that collect data about the Earth’s atmosphere, land surface and oceans.
Terra data is used for a variety of applications, including:
Terra is expected to continue operating until at least 2031. However, NASA plans to launch a new Earth observation satellite, the Joint Polar Satellite System (JPSS), in 2021. JPSS will be a continuation of Terra and will be carry a similar set of instruments.
Meteosat
Meteosat is a series of geostationary weather satellites operated by EUMETSAT. The first Meteosat satellite, Meteosat-1, was launched in 1977. To date, 10 Meteosat satellites have been launched, the most recent being Meteosat-10, launched in 2018.
Meteosat satellites orbit the Earth at an altitude of approximately 36,000 kilometers. They are positioned in geostationary orbit, which means they appear to remain in the same position in the sky relative to Earth. This makes them ideal for monitoring weather conditions in a specific region.
They carry a variety of instruments that collect data about the planet’s atmosphere. This data includes visible and infrared images of the Earth, as well as data on temperature, humidity and cloud cover.
Inmarsat 3
Inmarsat 3 is a series of geostationary communication satellites operated by Inmarsat. The first Inmarsat 3 satellite, Inmarsat 3-F1, was launched in 1996. To date, 5 Inmarsat 3 satellites have been launched, the most recent being Inmarsat 3-F5, launched in 2000.
Inmarsat 3 satellites circle the globe at an altitude of approximately 35,786 kilometers. Their positions are in geostationary orbit, which means they appear to remain in the same position in the sky relative to Earth. This makes them ideal for providing global communications services. Additionally, they carry a variety of transponders that can be used to provide a wide range of communication services.
GPS
GPS, which stands for Global Positioning System, is a satellite technology operated by the United States Department of Defense. It was originally designed for military purposes during the Cold War, but was made available for civilian use in 1980.
The GPS system consists of a network of approximately 24 satellites in medium Earth orbit that transmit radio signals to GPS receivers on the planet. These signals contain time and position information from the satellites.
The GPS receiver on Earth uses these signals from at least four satellites to calculate its own three-dimensional location (latitude, longitude and altitude) through a process called trilateration.
DSP
DSP, which stands for Defense Support Program, is a series of missile launch detection satellites operated by the United States Air Force. Started in 1970, DSP has been a critical component of the US ballistic missile warning system for more than four decades.
These satellites are equipped with infrared sensors that can detect the heat of a missile rocket during launch. Once detected, the DSP sends an alert signal to the ground station, providing time to respond to the potential threat.
Types of Satellites
Satellites can be classified in many ways such as function, orbit and launch method. Here are some of the most common categories:
- By Function:
- Communication Satellites: They are used to transmit television, radio and telecommunications signals.
- Navigation Satellites: Like Global Positioning System (GPS) satellites, they are used to provide accurate location information.
- Weather Satellites: These are used to monitor weather patterns and help with weather forecasting.
- Earth Observation Satellites: These are used to monitor natural resources, environmental phenomena and natural disasters.
- Astronomy Satellites: These are used to observe the universe at different wavelengths (such as Hubble and the Chandra X-ray Observatory).
- Military Satellites: They are used for defense and surveillance purposes.
- Research Satellites: They are used for scientific experiments and research.
- By Orbit:
- Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellites: Typically orbit the Earth at altitudes between 160 to 2,000 km. Examples include the International Space Station (ISS) and many Earth observation satellites.
- Medium Earth Orbit (MEO) satellites: Typically orbit the Earth at altitudes between 2,000 to 35,786 km. Examples include Global Positioning System (GPS) satellites.
- Satellites in Geostationary Orbit (GEO): Normally, they orbit the Earth at an altitude of 35,786 km above the equator and move at the same speed as the Earth’s rotation. This means that they remain in the same position relative to the Earth’s surface. Examples include many communication and weather forecast satellites.
- By Launch Method:
- Primary Satellites: They are the main satellite launched by a launch vehicle.
- Secondary Satellites or Rideshares: They are smaller and share the launch vehicle with a primary satellite.
- CubeSats or NanoSats: These are small-sized, low-cost satellites that are often launched in groups.
Hope this helps give you an overview of satellite types!
What is Earth’s most important satellite?
Determining Earth’s “most important” satellite can be subjective, as it depends on the context and evaluation criteria. However, two satellites (or rather, a natural satellite and a satellite system) often stand out in this discussion:
- The Moon: The Moon is Earth’s only natural satellite and plays a crucial role in the life of our planet. It stabilizes the Earth’s axial tilt, which contributes to a stable and seasonal climate. Ocean tides are strongly influenced by the Moon’s gravity. In addition, the Moon has been a milestone in human space exploration, being the only celestial body other than Earth to be visited by humans.
- GPS (Global Positioning System): The GPS system, made up of a constellation of approximately 24 satellites, is crucial for a wide range of applications in modern life. It provides accurate location and timing services to users around the world, supporting everything from vehicle and aircraft navigation to search and rescue operations, and from financial transactions to precision agriculture.
Other satellite systems, such as climate and environmental observation satellites, communications satellites, and astronomical observation satellites such as the Hubble Space Telescope, also play significant roles, depending on the domain of interest.