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Image description: This high-resolution image of the Earth was taken from the Visible/Infrared Imager Radiometer Suite aboard NASA’s most recently launched Earth-observing satellite - Suomi NPP. This composite image uses a number of shots of the Earth’s surface taken on January 4, 2012. 

Suomi NPP is NASA’s next Earth-observing research satellite. It is the first of a new generation of satellites that will observe many facets of our changing Earth.

Suomi NPP is carrying five instruments on board. The biggest and most important instrument is The Visible/Infrared Imager Radiometer Suite or VIIRS.

Read more about NASA’s Suomi NPP. 

Photo by NASA