NASA's Earth Observatory invites the public to identify and analyze satellite imagery in monthly educational puzzle.
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NASA's Earth Observatory has released its March 2026 Satellite Puzzler, challenging the public to identify the location and significance of a mystery satellite image. The monthly interactive program engages citizens in Earth observation science by presenting orbital imagery for analysis and interpretation.
The challenge leverages data from NASA's fleet of Earth-observing satellites, including instruments aboard missions like Landsat, MODIS, and the Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIIRS). These platforms capture multispectral imagery from altitudes of 400-700 kilometers, providing resolution capabilities ranging from 15 meters to several kilometers depending on the sensor configuration.
The Satellite Puzzler program has operated monthly since its inception, with each challenge remaining active for approximately 30 days before solutions are revealed. Previous puzzlers have featured geological formations, atmospheric phenomena, and human-modified landscapes captured by various Earth observation missions.
The initiative serves NASA's broader educational mission by democratizing satellite data interpretation and fostering public understanding of remote sensing science. The program supports the agency's commitment to open science principles while building scientific literacy in Earth system observation techniques among diverse audiences.
This educational outreach complements NASA's $2.3 billion annual Earth Science Division budget, which funds over 25 active satellite missions monitoring climate, weather, and environmental changes from space.