*That* satellite image of the UK

[joust]

You may have all seen the satellite image of the UK on the 8th where it shows most of the UK totally covered in snow?



Wondered where it came from? Want a high resolution image so you can print out a canvas print?

Well, the original (at 1km per pixel resolution) is here
http://rapidfire.sci.gsfc.nasa.gov/gallery/?201000...
This is the one that most of the press have been using. The problem is, is that it's a bit small to really print out.

So, a bit of digging, and you can have much, or M U C H, bigger ones. There are also 500m and 250m (i.e. twice and four times the resolution) images available

500m
http://rapidfire.sci.gsfc.nasa.gov/gallery/?201000...

250m
http://rapidfire.sci.gsfc.nasa.gov/gallery/?201000...

The 250m one is 4400x3400 pixels wide, or 15MP, enough for an A2 print if you wanted it. You can also see much clearer the very small parts of the UK that aren't covered in snow.

But the most facinating thing (IMHO) is actually if you zoom out a bit, and then look at the cloud to the west of the UK. Have a look at this!
http://rapidfire.sci.gsfc.nasa.gov/realtime/single...

Finally, there is actually slightly less coverage of cloud on the 8th Jan, as shown here (again at 2km per pixel), but if you wish to get a correct "flat" version you'd have to get the raw data (to get rid of the blue lines) and map it onto the appropiate transformation (details on the website). There is also a 1km, 500m and 250m per pixel versions available
http://rapidfire.sci.gsfc.nasa.gov/realtime/single...

The entire website, including some background on why this particular set of two satellites are up there, is available at
http://rapidfire.sci.gsfc.nasa.gov/

Did you know the real reason they are up there is to track fires?.

Enjoy!

J

Edited by joust on Monday 11th January 12:09

Edited by joust on Thursday 14th January 13:40

[North West Tom]

Cool! Cheers mate

[tybalt]

I was looking for that earlier, but failed and got distracted.

Cheers

[Chris_w666]

[Uhura_Fighter]

Thanks

[Big Al.]

Interesting post J,

[LilPeteMordino]

Forgive me, But what is special about the cloud to the west of the UK? I'm not quite sure what it is showing?

[Kit80]

Great find!

[joust]

LilPeteMordino said:

Forgive me, But what is special about the cloud to the west of the UK? I'm not quite sure what it is showing?

I just think the way it's all "split up" when it's the same cloud that dumped all the snow is facinating.

Maybe it's just me, but given the amount of snow we had I just expected to see a massive lump out to the West.

J

[Logie]

Its like the end of "The day after tomorrow"

[chimera40]

Thanks Bud, just printed off a copy for posterity, looks great.

[Mr Noble]

That is very cool.

[Arese]

Logie said:

Its like the end of "The day after tomorrow"

Wednesday?

[HereBeMonsters]

rightclicksaveas

[clonmult]

HereBeMonsters said:

rightclicksaveas

And will be printing a copy for the kids. They'll love it.

[y2blade]

thanks

[wackojacko]

Mr Noble said:

That is very cool.

[Pooh]

Very nice, it is good to see the country the correct shape for a change rather than the distorted crap they inflict on us with the weather maps.

[mcdjl]

I got sent the link to the high res one but hadn't thought to look see what else you could see! Now we just need access to the high resolution ones where you can read some ones news paper so we can wave to it