NASA Earthdata
Verified working Jul 31, 2026
Search and use NASA Earth observation data from one central portal.
NASA Earthdata is the main entry point for discovering, accessing, and working with NASA Earth science data collections. It connects users to data catalogs, subject pathfinders, visualization tools, near-real-time services, training materials, and the Distributed Active Archive Centers that manage specific datasets.
Why it stands out
- Official NASA source for a broad range of Earth observation datasets and supporting documentation.
- Combines discovery, visualization, analysis, training, and archive navigation rather than acting only as a download catalog.
- Organizes data by scientific topic, platform, instrument, project, and archive center, which helps users approach the collection from different workflows.
- Includes operational and near-real-time services such as LANCE and FIRMS alongside long-term research archives.
Good to know
- NASA notes that Earth science sites are being migrated into Earthdata through the end of 2026, so not every resource may appear there yet.
- The portal spans many specialized datasets, tools, and archive centers, so new users may need remote-sensing or GIS background to choose the right product.
- Some workflows route users into separate DAAC or tool interfaces rather than keeping everything in one unified experience.
Under the radar: If a keyword search is too broad, start with the topic pathfinders or application areas such as air quality, agriculture, natural hazards, or water quality; they narrow the relevant datasets and tools faster than browsing the full catalog.
Photos
Earth scientists, GIS analysts, and climate researchers can find authoritative NASA datasets for remote sensing, environmental monitoring, and model inputs. Track fires, storms, air quality, water, land cover, oceans, cryosphere, and other Earth system topics. Use visualization tools such as Worldview, FIRMS, Giovanni, AppEEARS, and VEDA to explore data before downloading. Find training, tutorials, webinars, and data recipes for applying NASA observations in research or decision support.
Central NASA Earth science data catalog; topic-based data pathfinders; links to DAAC archives; near-real-time Earth observation projects; satellite platform and instrument references; visualization and analysis tools; developer resources including APIs and the Common Metadata Repository; training and open science guidance.
Technical Notes
- Developer resources include NASA Earthdata APIs and the Common Metadata Repository for programmatic dataset discovery and metadata access.
- Data access is oriented around structured Earth science collections managed by NASA DAACs, with downloadable datasets and tool-specific access paths depending on the product.
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Similar sites elsewhere
- USGS EarthExplorer — earthexplorer.usgs.gov
- Copernicus Data Space Ecosystem — dataspace.copernicus.eu
- NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information — ncei.noaa.gov
- Google Earth Engine — earthengine.google.com
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