USGS EarthExplorer
Operator: U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), EROS Center, United States
USGS portal for satellite imagery, aerial imagery and geospatial data from the EROS archive.
Image, Video & Geo
Product
EarthExplorer is the USGS EROS Center’s search and download portal for its remote sensing archive.
Availability and source date
Active
As of: 16 October 2026.
No functionality test has been performed.
Use in OSINT research
Satellite and aerial imagery helps narrow down when places changed and compare visible terrain or building features.
Queries
| Input | Result | Result type |
|---|---|---|
| Place name | Imagery and geospatial data for the area selected by place name. | Retrieved |
| Address | Imagery and geospatial data around the geocoded address. | Retrieved |
| Coordinates | Datasets whose spatial coverage intersects the coordinates or defined area. | Retrieved |
| Document / file | Results within the search area of an uploaded GeoJSON, KML or Shapefile. | Retrieved |
Features
- Selects search areas using a map, coordinates or place details.
- Filters imagery by date range and cloud cover.
- Shows previews and metadata for matching datasets.
- Downloads available data after signing in.
- Allows paid scanning orders for selected historical film imagery.
Categories
- Image, Video & Geo
- Maps & satellite imagery
Coverage
Geographical coverage
Worldwide; coverage varies by dataset
Dataset
Satellite imagery, aerial imagery, elevation models and land cover data. The EROS archive includes Landsat as well as global and US datasets.
Access
Requirements
Searches and previews are publicly accessible. Downloads and orders require an account in the EROS Registration System.
Export
Downloads of available imagery and geospatial data, plus metadata export. Formats and products depend on the selected dataset.
Provider
U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), EROS Center
Country of establishment
United States
Interfaces
API
Available. The separate USGS M2M API provides search and data retrieval for the EarthExplorer collection. An ERS account is required.
MCP
Not documented. Not specified.
AI agents
Not documented. Not specified.
Usage note
USGS generally states that EROS data has no use restrictions. Specific licence terms shown when obtaining the data take precedence.
Limitations
- Coverage and acquisition dates vary by dataset. Map backgrounds are for orientation only and cannot be downloaded.
- Historical film metadata may be inaccurate. Previews must be checked against the area covered.
- Individual datasets may have their own licence terms.
Guides and practical reports
Official · How to use USGS EarthExplorer to download imagery
USGS EROS · 07/2026 · EN
Shows area selection, datasets, previews and image downloads.