satellite imagery

Map showing damage to southern and middle Gaza since Oct. 7.

World News

Israel told Palestinians to evacuate to southern Gaza — and stepped up attacks there

6:00pm November 17, 2023

Satellite imagery shows a steady increase in the number of buildings destroyed in middle and southern Gaza. Most damage appeared after Oct. 13, when Israel's military urged evacuation from the north.

A satellite view shows smoke along the Gaza-Israel border on Oct. 7 in an image combining natural with shortwave-infrared highlights. The image came from a Copernicus Sentinel satellite run, by the EU space program.

The U.S. has special rules for satellites over one country: Israel

7:44am November 16, 2023

by Bill Chappell

It's not unusual for countries to restrict satellite images of sensitive locations. But in the case of Israel, a U.S. law seeks to protect an entire — and separate — country.

The Israeli military has encircled Gaza City after several days of ground operations

Satellites and social media offer hints about Israel's ground war strategy in Gaza

7:50pm November 03, 2023

The Israeli military appears to have encircled Gaza City, but so far, it's made only limited forays into the densest urban areas.

Lillian Kay Petersen, 17, from Los Alamos, N.M., won first place in the 2020 Regeneron Science Talent Search, a science and math competition for high school seniors. The pandemic meant a virtual Zoom ceremony rather than what's usually a black-tie gala ce

High School Senior's Tool To End Food Insecurity Wins National Competition

7:26pm July 30, 2020

by Reena Advani

Lillian Kay Petersen, 17, has won the Regeneron Science Talent Search, a top science and math competition for high school seniors. Her winning project: a tool to predict crop harvests.

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Satellite imagery shows new roads under construction at North Korea's Sohae Satellite Launching Station.

North Korea Seen Expanding Rocket Launch Facility It Once Promised To Dismantle

6:00pm March 27, 2020

by Geoff Brumfiel

Satellite imagery shared exclusively with NPR suggests that North Korea is moving ahead with plans to expand its capabilities.

Books
Arts

Looking Back At Human History, Archaeologist Suspects 'We're 51% Good'

4:40pm July 29, 2019

by Ari Shapiro

Sarah Parcak has found that studying the rise and fall of civilizations has given her hope, or at least some hope. Her new book is called Archaeology from Space: How The Future Shapes Our Past.

Kansas farmer Derek Klingenberg is using satellite images to capture cow art from space.

Have You Herd? Farmer Writes A Memoo Using Cows And Satellite Imagery

10:49am March 21, 2018

by Ben Kuebrich

A Kansas farmer is becoming somewhat of a celebrity for making agriculture-themed pop-music parodies and calling his cattle by playing Lorde's "Royals" on the trombone. Now, he's making space cow art.

This composite of drone images shows architectural details and measurements (left) and a close-up view of a monumental structure near the center of Petra in Jordan.

World News

Massive Structure Found 'Hiding In Plain Sight' At Ancient Site Of Petra

3:27pm June 10, 2016

by Merrit Kennedy

Researchers using satellite images and drones discovered a structure the size of an Olympic-size pool near the center of the ancient city in Jordan. But what exactly it was used for remains a mystery.

A satellite image of the archaeological site of Tanis, after processing. Sarah Parcak used satellite data to find the ancient Egyptian city.

Space Archaeologist Wants Your Help To Find Ancient Sites

7:49pm February 17, 2016

by NPR Staff

Sarah Parcak uses satellite imagery to identify hidden sites. The winner of the 2016 TED Prize now plans to invite everyone to help her locate historical treasures.

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