Figure 1
This image of Paris was acquired on July 23, 2000 and covers an area of 23
by 20 km. Known as the City of Light, Paris has been extolled for
centuries as one of the great cities of the world. Its location on the
Seine River, at a strategic crossroads of land and river routes, has been
the key to its expansion since the Parisii tribe first settled here in the
3rd century BC. Paris is an alluring city boasting many monumental
landmarks, such as the Cathedral of Notre Dame, the Louvre, and the Eiffel
Tower. Its beautiful gardens, world-class cuisine, high fashion, sidewalk
cafés, and intellectual endeavors are well known. The city's cultural life
is centered on the Left Bank of the Seine, while business and commerce
dominate the Right Bank. The image is located at 48.8 degrees north
latitude and 2.3 degrees east longitude.
In figure 1, the 4 enlarged areas zoom in to some of the major buildings.
In the UPPER LEFT, the Eiffel Tower and its shadow are seen. Based on the
length of the shadow and the solar elevation angle of 59 degrees, we can
calculate its height as 324 m (1054 ft), compared to its actual height of
303 m (985 ft). In the UPPER RIGHT, the Arc de Triomphe is at the center
of the Place de L'etoile, from which radiate 12 major boulevards. In the
LOWER LEFT is the Tuileries Garden and the Louvre Museum art its eastern
end. In the LOWER RIGHT is the Invalides, the burial place and monument of
Napoleon Bonaparte.
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.