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Category: Geographic Information Science

color map showing satellite view of the Florida Keys in false color

The Oscillating Mirror that Changed Earth Science

Posted by: Meagan Snow

Learn about the development of the oscillating scan mirror (a key component of Virginia Norwood's multi-spectral scanner), which made Landsat I a success, changing the science of earth observation forever. The development of the oscillating scan mirror is documented in the "Virginia Norwood Papers," a new collection in the Geography & Map Division of the Library of Congress.

Painted map of world with sharp detail on ocean floor topography and deep blue colors at deepest ocean points.

Celebrate GIS Day and Ocean Mapping at Live! At The Library, Thursday, November 21st!

Posted by: Tim St. Onge

Celebrate Geography Awareness Week and GIS Day at the Library of Congress on Thursday, November 21st from 5pm to 8pm with Mapping Our World, a special Live! at the Library event diving into ocean mapping and exploration! This event will feature a collections display, interactive games and crafts, and a talk by Dr. Vicki Ferrini of Columbia University on the history of ocean mapping.

The Hungarian Parliamentary Building sits on the banks of the Danube. The GeoTIFF locates the building about 150 meters to the northeast of its true location.

The Secret Life of GeoTIFFs

Posted by: Carissa Pastuch

This is a guest post by Rachel Trent, Digital Collections and Automation Coordinator in the Geography and Map Division. The image below is of a TIFF file, but not just any TIFF. Hidden inside are coordinates that bind the image to a specific place on Earth. For every pixel in the image, an estimated latitude …