Though first shot in 1972 by the crew of the Apollo 17, NASA has revealed a new version of an image showing the entire surface of the Earth. This sort of map has been updated several times, being the last one in 2010. This brand new version completely ousts the former one due to the quality increase it has undergone, which reaches 8000 x 8000 px and can be watched at NASA Flickr account.
The image has been taken by a satellite now called Suomi NPP in honour of Verner Suomi, a meterorologist who is considered the father of satellite meteorology. This satellite is included in NASA project called NPOESS and it is intended to improve predictions related to weather and it will also be part of the next generation satellite network.
Among several instruments the satellite has, such as an Ozone Mapping and Profiler Suite (OMPS) or an Advanced Technology Microwave Sounder (ATMS), the key component to create this image has definitely been the Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIIRS), which has a 22-band radiometer.
Further information about this project can be found here.
Via | Gizmodo
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