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 only the first three, 15-meter bands. ASTER imagery has been used by KansasView members for various research applications, including looking at the water quality of ponds. These false color composites of Forbes Field airport south of Topeka, Kansas were acquired by the ASTER (left) and ETM+ (right) sensors.
ASTER
Data
Download Applications Using ASTER Data ASTER Instrument Characteristics |
| Characteristic | Visible and NIR | Short Wave IR | Thermal IR |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spectral Range | Band 1:
|
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 |
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| Ground Resolution | 15 m | 30m | 90m |
| Quantization (bits) | 8 | 8 | 12 |
