The Smithsonian Institution Traveling Exhibition Service, in collaboration with the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum, have produced an exhibit entitled “Earth from Space.” The exhibit features a Magic Planet from Global Imagination along with 40 beautiful detailed satellite images of the earth. Together they reveal the awesome beauty of the planet’s surface through the “eyes” of a space satellite. “Earth from Space” illustrates how satellite imagery is gathered and used to expand mankind’s understanding of life on Earth. It also explores the remote sensing technology used to gather the images and discusses the individual satellites whose images are on display.

The Magic Planet provides the “global context” for the exhibit. Featured on the Magic Planet are animations on topics as diverse as how satellites gather data and images for the entire planet; global weather throughout the 2005 storm season that included hurricanes Katrina and Rita; life on earth, El Nino and many others.

A companion Web site— www.earthfromspace.si.edu —contains an online version of the exhibition, as well as additional images and information. It also provides numerous educational resources, including lesson plans, classroom activities, web site links and available publications. The site links to the most up-to-date national tour schedule.

The exhibit was made possible by Global Imagination. Additional support was provided by the U.S. Geological Survey and the Smithsonian Women's Committee.