ASTER Imagery
ASTER Imagery
(Advanced Spaceborne Thermal Emission and Reflection Radiometer)
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ASTER is an imaging instrument flying on Terra, a satellite launched in December 1999 as part of NASA’s Earth Observing System. ASTER collects data in 14 different spectral bands which vary in spatial resolution from 15 to 90 meters (see table below). We acquire and archive only the first three 15-meter bands. Images in the archive are in GeoTiff format with UTM projection.

These false color composites of Forbes Field airport south of Topeka, Kansas were acquired by the ASTER (left) and ETM+ (right) sensors.
ASTER 15-meter ETM+ 30-meter

ASTER Data Download

ASTER Instrument Characteristics

Characteristic Visible and NIR Short Wave IR Thermal IR
Spectral Range

Band 1:
0.52 - 0.60 µm
Nadir looking

Band 4:
1.600 - 1.700 µm
Band 10:
8.125 - 8.475 µm
Band 2:
0.63 - 0.69 µm
Nadir looking
Band 5:
2.145 - 2.185 µm
Band 11:
8.475 - 8.825 µm
Band 3:
0.76 - 0.86 µm
Nadir looking
Band 6:
2.185 - 2.225 µm
Band 12:
8.925 - 9.275 µm
Band 3:
0.76 - 0.86 µm
Backward looking
Band 7:
2.235 - 2.285 µm
Band 13:
10.25 - 10.95 µm
Band 8:
2.295 - 2.365 µm
Band 14:
10.95 - 11.65 µm
Band 9:
2.360 - 2.430 µm
Ground Resolution 15 m 30m 90m
Quantization (bits) 8 8 12