NASA Earth (@NASAEarth) | teapawt

NASA Earth retweeted

Sept. 22 marks the fall equinox. That means day and night are nearly equal in length around the world, and in the Northern Hemisphere, fall begins. In the Southern Hemisphere, spring begins on this day.

A satellite's-eye view from October 2022 of the Adirondack Mountains of northeast New York during fall. The leaves on trees are a fiery orange and red. Some trees remain green. White fluffy clouds are visible at the edges of the image.

ALT A satellite's-eye view from October 2022 of the Adirondack Mountains of northeast New York during fall. The leaves on trees are a fiery orange and red. Some trees remain green. White fluffy clouds are visible at the edges of the image.

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The melting season for Arctic sea ice is about 40 days longer than in 1979. Much of that change happened prior to 2010, when the season length stabilized. The findings come from a @NASA-led study of satellite observations of Arctic sea ice from 1979-2023. go.nasa.gov/4yKFreB

Map of the Arctic with colors indicating how the sea ice melting season has changed from 2000 to 2009. Red indicates areas where the season grew longer. Blue indicates where it grew shorter. The map is mostly dark red, indicating an increase of about 5 days or more. Closer to the pole, the melting season has changed less dramatically. Credit: NASA

ALT Map of the Arctic with colors indicating how the sea ice melting season has changed from 2000 to 2009. Red indicates areas where the season grew longer. Blue indicates where it grew shorter. The map is mostly dark red, indicating an increase of about 5 days or more. Closer to the pole, the melting season has changed less dramatically. Credit: NASA

Map of the Arctic with colors indicating how the sea ice melting season has changed from 2010 to 2023. Red indicates areas where the season grew longer. Blue indicates where it grew shorter. The map shows a mix of lighter red and blue, indicating smaller changes of only a few days. Credit: NASA

ALT Map of the Arctic with colors indicating how the sea ice melting season has changed from 2010 to 2023. Red indicates areas where the season grew longer. Blue indicates where it grew shorter. The map shows a mix of lighter red and blue, indicating smaller changes of only a few days. Credit: NASA

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The research does not suggest that shifts in Earth’s climate have stopped affecting the Arctic. The region is still warming nearly 4x faster than the global average. Instead, it suggests that the melt season for Arctic sea ice may depend more on weather patterns than it used to.

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NASA Earth retweeted

Tomorrow is International Observe the Moon Night. 🌙 It's easy to get involved: observe the Moon with binoculars, a telescope, or even just look up! Share what you see with us! For more ways to get involved: go.nasa.gov/4yDF31t

International Observe the Moon Night - NASA Science

You're invited! Each International Observe the Moon Night, people around the world celebrate lunar observation, science, exploration, arts, and culture.

science.nasa.gov

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The second-largest reservoir in the U.S. has dropped to record-low water levels. These satellite images show Colorado’s Lake Powell in 2017, when water levels were high, and now in 2026, when snow drought and unusually warm temperatures have driven water levels to record lows.

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Learn more about Lake Powell and how NASA data helps decision-makers manage water resources: science.nasa.gov/earth/earth…

Lake Powell Drops to Record-Low Levels - NASA Science

Snow drought and unusually warm temperatures in the Colorado Basin in 2026 helped drive down reservoir water storage in the U.S. West.

science.nasa.gov

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It’s the last week of summer in the Northern Hemisphere, but the season is going out with record-breaking heat. 🥵 A heat dome sent temperatures soaring in the south-central U.S. on Sept. 15, 2026. This map shows air temperatures from satellites and @NASAGoddard’s GEOS model.

Map of air temperatures in the contiguous United States during a heat dome on September 15, 2026. White and light blue colors indicate cooler temperatures below 20 degrees Celsius. Oranges and reds indicate warmer temperatures around 25 to 45 degrees Celsius. The darkest reds indicate temperatures at or above 45 degrees Celsius. Much of the south, central, and eastern U.S. are some shade of orange or red. Darker reds cover Texas and several states to the east and northeast. Credit: NASA

ALT Map of air temperatures in the contiguous United States during a heat dome on September 15, 2026. White and light blue colors indicate cooler temperatures below 20 degrees Celsius. Oranges and reds indicate warmer temperatures around 25 to 45 degrees Celsius. The darkest reds indicate temperatures at or above 45 degrees Celsius. Much of the south, central, and eastern U.S. are some shade of orange or red. Darker reds cover Texas and several states to the east and northeast. Credit: NASA

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Learn more about this event: science.nasa.gov/earth/earth…

Summer Goes Out With a Heat Dome - NASA Science

Temperature records toppled across the central and southern U.S. as the autumnal equinox approached.

science.nasa.gov

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If Earth were a hard marble, its center of mass would stay in the middle – but in reality, the center shifts as seasons move water, ice, and air around the planet. NASA scientists developed a new way to track these motions more precisely, helping improve mapping and navigation.

A 3D digital illustration of Earth with a slice cut away to reveal its internal layers. The exterior shows a realistic view of the globe, focusing on Europe, Asia, and Africa with visible geographic features and grid lines. Credit: NASA’s Scientific Visualization Studio

ALT A 3D digital illustration of Earth with a slice cut away to reveal its internal layers. The exterior shows a realistic view of the globe, focusing on Europe, Asia, and Africa with visible geographic features and grid lines. Credit: NASA’s Scientific Visualization Studio

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Learn more: go.nasa.gov/3UUyI3q

NASA Watches Earth’s Weight, Finds Center of Mass - NASA

Seasonal changes redistribute enough water around Earth to shift the planet’s center of mass back and forth by fractions of an inch relative to its geometric

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Fall vibes come early in the far north 🍂 The low-growing shrubs in this area reach peak red, orange, and yellow in mid-September, finds a @NASA and @SDState analysis of satellite data. But blink and you might miss it! Peak color can last a week or less in the far north.

Satellite image of Nunavut, Canada on September 6, 2026. Much of the image is pale orange and yellow as the leaves change to fall colors. The Coppermine River winds across the left and bottom sides of the image. Blue and green lakes and ponds dot the landscape. Credit: NASA

ALT Satellite image of Nunavut, Canada on September 6, 2026. Much of the image is pale orange and yellow as the leaves change to fall colors. The Coppermine River winds across the left and bottom sides of the image. Blue and green lakes and ponds dot the landscape. Credit: NASA

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Get the science behind fall in the far north: science.nasa.gov/earth/earth…

An Early Look at Fall Color in Canada - NASA Science

Reds, yellows, and oranges are already sweeping across tundra landscapes in Nunavut.

science.nasa.gov

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NASA Earth retweeted

Learn With NASA

⏰ Today is the day! The deadline to apply for a NASA Spring 2027 internship is tonight, Sept. 14, at 11:59pm ET. Get your application in before time runs out: intern.nasa.gov

ALT A group of interns is gathered around a large red sculpture of the NASA worm logo outside of NASA Headquarters in Washington, DC.

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The ocean has a hidden garden of phytoplankton. You just need to know how to see it, and NASA’s PACE mission has the tools! 🌊🛰️ With PACE, scientists can identify types of phytoplankton in the water, which each play a different role in ocean ecosystems.

True color satellite image showing a phytoplankton bloom off the U.S. East Coast in May 2024. The bloom looks like a milky, bright blue swirl just off the coast. Credit: NASA

ALT True color satellite image showing a phytoplankton bloom off the U.S. East Coast in May 2024. The bloom looks like a milky, bright blue swirl just off the coast. Credit: NASA

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How will El Niño affect hurricanes? NASA satellites are helping improve predictions. 🌀 NASA and European Sentinel-6 satellites measure sea level height to track changes in ocean heat and better understand shifts in hurricane patterns. The data can help guide disaster response.

Hurricane Melissa as seen from the International Space Station on Oct. 28, 2025. Thick white clouds spiral out from the storm's eye 50 miles south of Jamaica. A panel of the ISS cuts in on the left. Credit: NASA

ALT Hurricane Melissa as seen from the International Space Station on Oct. 28, 2025. Thick white clouds spiral out from the storm's eye 50 miles south of Jamaica. A panel of the ISS cuts in on the left. Credit: NASA

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Learn more: go.nasa.gov/4ilT6E5

How 2 US, European Satellites Are Studying Hurricanes During El Niño - NASA

Last November, NASA and its European partners launched the Sentinel-6B satellite to improve hurricane forecasts, help protect infrastructure, and benefit

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Do you recognize this area? If so, you might be a Star Trek fan! 🖖 This @NASA satellite image shows Vasquez Rocks Natural Area in Southern California. Multiple Star Trek scenes were filmed here, including an iconic battle between Captain James T. Kirk and a reptilian alien.

Natural color satellite image showing the Vasquez Rocks Natural Area and surrounding area in Southern California. Most of the landscape is brown and mountainous.The Vasquez Rocks appear as a patch of curved gray stripes just below and to the left of center near Agua Dulce. Palmdale is barely visible in the top right corner and the Bouquet Reservoir is near the top left corner. Credit: NASA

ALT Natural color satellite image showing the Vasquez Rocks Natural Area and surrounding area in Southern California. Most of the landscape is brown and mountainous.The Vasquez Rocks appear as a patch of curved gray stripes just below and to the left of center near Agua Dulce. Palmdale is barely visible in the top right corner and the Bouquet Reservoir is near the top left corner. Credit: NASA

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Learn more about how these iconic, otherworldly rock formations formed: science.nasa.gov/earth/earth…

The Otherworldly Geology of Vasquez Rocks - NASA Science

Layers of sedimentary rock that jut from the Soledad Basin at surprising angles have long enthralled television and film producers, including the team behind Star Trek.

science.nasa.gov

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NASA studies air pollution around the world to better understand what’s in the air and what it can mean for human health. #CleanAirDay

Clean air matters for everyone. 🌎 With missions like TEMPO, NASA helps track air quality across North America, helping communities plan for a healthier future. #CleanAirDay Learn more: go.nasa.gov/4m3UQ3d

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Fires are smoldering in Indonesia, which is in a severe and widespread drought. Some of these are tropical peatland fires, which burn slowly, release higher amounts of air pollution, and are notoriously difficult to extinguish.

NASA satellite image of fire smoke covering much of Indonesia and Malaysia on September 1, 2026. The plumes are gray, with only some areas of green and brown land visible through the smoke. Red dots have been added to show where the MODIS instrument detected fires. The dots are primarily on the western and southern parts of Indonesia and often cluster together. Credit: NASA

ALT NASA satellite image of fire smoke covering much of Indonesia and Malaysia on September 1, 2026. The plumes are gray, with only some areas of green and brown land visible through the smoke. Red dots have been added to show where the MODIS instrument detected fires. The dots are primarily on the western and southern parts of Indonesia and often cluster together. Credit: NASA

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This image from @NASA’s Aqua satellite shows smoke covering much of Indonesia and Malaysia on September 1, 2026. Red dots have been added where the satellite’s MODIS instrument detected thermal anomalies indicative of fire. go.nasa.gov/4yheUFF

Peatland Fires Darken Skies in Indonesia - NASA Science

With Indonesia gripped by drought, fires are smoldering on the surface and underground.

science.nasa.gov

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