In October, NASA launched the NPP satellite into orbit around the Earth. NPP is collecting data that will helps scientists observe and study climate change and weather. It is now orbiting the Earth at an altitude of 512 miles and a speed of 16,640 miles per hour (eight kilometers per second), circling the planet 14 times per day. The image above, of the East Coast, the Bahamas, and Cuba, shows the first measurements from NPP's Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIIRS), the largest of five instruments on board, received by NASA scientists on November 21.
Below, recent Pictures of the Day:
Image: NASA.
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Rebecca J. Rosen is a senior editor at The Atlantic, where she oversees coverage of American constitutional law and government in the Battle for the Constitution series.