Earth's story,
seen from space
Satellite imagery revealing how our world is changing
Featured Story
Dubai, UAE
2000 — 2024 · Landsat 5/7 + Sentinel-2 · 10-30m
From desert to megacity in 35 years. Dubai, UAE 1990 → 2025 Landsat / Sentinel-2 · ESA / USGS Dubai's population grew from 370K to 3.7M. The desert coastline was reshaped with artificial islands — Palm Jumeirah and The World archipelago visible from space. Data: Landsat 5/7 (1990-2010) + Sentinel-2 (2020-2025) (25.1°N, 55.2°E) #SatelliteImagery #VisibleFromSpace #OrbitalStory #UrbanGrowth #CityFromSpace #Dubai #Timelapse #EarthObservation #Sentinel2 #Landsat Imagery: USGS/NASA Landsat + ESA/Copernicus Sentinel-2
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About
The Overview Effect
Astronauts describe a cognitive shift when they see Earth from space for the first time — a sudden awareness of the planet as a single, fragile system. They call it the Overview Effect.
OrbitalStory brings that perspective to everyone through satellite imagery. Using data from the European Space Agency's Sentinel-2, NASA/USGS Landsat missions, and Google Earth Engine, we create visual stories that reveal how landscapes, coastlines, and cities are transforming over time.
Every image is derived from open data. Every story is a real place, a real change, seen from orbit.
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