Windows on Earth

High school (ages 12+)
Space & Astronomy

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/windows-on-earth

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. What is the historical milestone?Landsat 1 launch in 1972 initiated continuous Earth surface data
2. What is the sensor types?Passive (optical) and active (radar, lidar) sensors capture diverse data
3. How do satellites take pictures of Earth?Satellites have special cameras and sensors that can see light and heat. They record the colors and warmth of the ground, water, and clouds, and send the information back to Earth.
4. Why do scientists use satellite images?Scientists use them to watch how forests, oceans, and cities change over time. The images help them study weather, climate, and the health of plants and animals.

Multispectral/Hyperspectral Sensors: Sensors capturing data across many narrow bands of the electromagnetic spectrum.
Geostationary/Polar-Orbiting Satellites: Satellites with different orbital paths providing continuous or global coverage.
Electromagnetic Spectrum: The range of all types of light and other electromagnetic radiation.