On August 14, 1959, a U.S. satellite snapped the first pictures of Earth. Since then, many far more sophisticated imaging satellites have gone up, providing scientists with a wealth of information.

When Winds and Islands Collide

This image shows Von Karman vortices, a row of eddies that alternate in their direction of rotation. These patterns are formed when winds or ocean currents are disrupted, typically by an island or group of islands.

These vortices were formed when the winds moving east across the northern Pacific encountered the Aleutian Islands. The image was taken in 2002 by the Landsat 7 satellite.