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The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has released crisp, color images of Earth from its newest orbiting weather satellite.

"The release of the first images today is the latest step in a new age of weather satellites," the agency said in a press release. "It will be like high-definition from the heavens."

The satellite, known as GOES-16, is in geostationary orbit, meaning its location does not move relative to the ground below it. It is 22,300 miles above Earth. The 16 in its name refers to its imaging device, which measures 16 different "spectral bands," including two that are visible to the human eye and 14 that we experience as heat.

Earth

It is significantly more advanced than the current GOES satellite, which measures only five spectral bands.

GOES-16 was launched from Cape Canaveral, Fla., in December and is a collaboration between NOAA and NASA. When it is fully up and running, the satellite will "provide images of weather pattern and severe storms as frequently as every 30 seconds, which will contribute to more accurate and reliable weather forecasts and severe weather outlooks," according to its mission overview page.

In the press release, Stephen Volz, director of NOAA's Satellite and Information Service, wrote of the new photos:

GOES-16 Animation of Weather over the Western U.S.

Between now and then, the agency will have to decide where to park GOES-16. Right now it is at a test location, at 89.5 degrees west over the Americas.

Its final location over either the eastern or western U.S. will be decided in part by where NOAA determines provides the "optimal early use" for the satellite's superior weather forecasting technology, a spokesperson explained. That location will be announced in May.

A second, similar satellite known as GOES-17 is being tested in Colorado, and NOAA expects it to begin operating about nine months after GOES-16.

Science

Rebecca Hersher

Author

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration released the first public images from its new weather satellite. The agency says the satellite's data will lead to more accurate weather forecasts.

'Like high-definition from the heavens'; NOAA releases new images of Earth

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