This simulated true color perspective view over the Grand Canyon was
created from Advanced Spaceborne Thermal Emission and Reflection
Radiometer (ASTER) data acquired on May 12, 2000. The Grand Canyon Village
is in the lower foreground; the Bright Angel Trail crosses the Tonto
Platform, before dropping down to the Colorado Village and then to the
Phantom Ranch (green area across the river). Bright Angel Canyon and the
North Rim dominate the view. At the top center of the image the dark blue
area with light blue haze is an active forest fire.
ASTER is one of five Earth-observing instruments launched December 18,
1999, on NASA's Terra satellite. The instrument was built by Japan's
Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry. A joint U.S./Japan science team
is responsible for validation and calibration of the instrument and the
data products.
The broad spectral coverage and high spectral resolution of ASTER provides
scientists in numerous disciplines with critical information for surface
mapping, and monitoring of dynamic conditions and temporal change. Example
applications are: monitoring glacial advances and retreats; monitoring
potentially active volcanoes; identifying crop stress; determining cloud
morphology and physical properties; wetlands evaluation; thermal pollution
monitoring; coral reef degradation; surface temperature mapping of soils
and geology; and measuring surface heat balance.
The U.S. science team is located at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory,
Pasadena, Calif. The Terra mission is part of NASA's Science Mission
Directorate.
Size: 5 km in foreground to 40 km
Location: 36.3 degrees north latitude, 112 degrees west longitude
Orientation: North-northeast at top
Original Data Resolution: ASTER 15 meters
Dates Acquired: May 12, 2000