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Space Satellite

We recommend reviewing this page before getting started— or if you just need a quick refresher.

What's a Satellite, Really?

Think of it like a camera on a flying drone going in circles around earth, but way higher, in space!

Instead of just taking pictures, many satellites have special tools (called sensors) that can ‘see’ things our eyes can’t, like heat, storms, or even how healthy plants are from far away. They then send us this invisible data to help us learn about Earth.

How do we get the data.png

How does the data get to us?

Satellites capture images and data from space, then beam it down to special stations on Earth. Scientists process this raw information, turning it into something we can all use—like weather forecasts, disaster alerts, or even maps on your phone! Most people don’t realize this data is often free and public!

It takes experts—like our team at BGCCCI—to analyze it and uncover hidden patterns.

This way, governments and leaders can make smarter decisions, like protecting forests, preparing for floods, or building better cities. So while satellites work silently above us, their data shapes our lives in ways we might not even notice!

The Electromagnetic Spectrum

Imagine light as a wave, like ripples in water

The distance between the tops of two waves is called the wavelength. Different wavelengths of light behave differently and give us different information. The whole range of these waves is the electromagnetic spectrum, from very long radio waves to very short gamma rays.

  • Radio waves / Microwaves: Very long wavelengths. Can pass through clouds. This is where radar lives.

  • Infrared (IR): Longer than visible light. Associated with heat.

  • Visible light: What our eyes can see (Red, Orange, Yellow, Green, Blue, Indigo, Violet).

  • Ultraviolet (UV): Shorter than visible light.

WAVELENGTH IN NANOMETER

Be Spatial, Be Informed.

BCC-City University of New York, Room #807, Meister Hall, 2155, University Avenue, Bronx-NY 10453.

Tel: 1-718-289-5566/5233.

Fax: 1-718-289-6448.

©2025 by BCC GEOSPATIAL CENTER CUNY CREST INSTITUTE.

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