How to Search and Download USGS Satellite and Aerial Imagery with EarthExplorer
EarthExplorer (earthexplorer.usgs.gov) is the U.S. Geological Survey's portal for querying and ordering satellite images, aerial photographs, and cartographic products. You can define an area of interest by address, coordinates, map click, or file upload, set a date range, pick a dataset, and then preview and download or order the results. The workflow below follows the four-step structure the site itself uses: Search Criteria, Data Sets, Additional Criteria, Results.
Step 1: Define your search area
On the Search Criteria tab, choose how you want to specify the area of interest. The available methods are:
- Address or place name — type it into the geocoder field.
- Coordinates — enter them directly.
- Map click — click the map to draw your area.
- File upload — supply a GeoJSON, KML, or Shapefile.
- Feature (GNIS) — search by named geographic feature.
- Path/Row — enter a WRS path and row (see below).
For polygon or point entry, you can set the type. If you use Path/Row, select the WRS type first: WRS2 or WRS1. WRS (Worldwide Reference System) is the grid USGS uses to index Landsat scenes, so Path/Row is the fastest route when you already know which scene you need.
You can also set a date range here to limit results by acquisition date.
Watch the 100-record limit
EarthExplorer caps search results at 100 records. The page states this directly and recommends narrowing your search to avoid exceeding it. To stay under the limit, select a Country, Feature Class, and/or Feature Type. The Feature Type list is long and granular — for example, populated places (city, town, village, settlement), administrative boundaries (borough, county, parish, township), and many natural and cultural features (bay, beach, canal, cape, glacier, and so on). Choosing a specific feature type instead of "All" is the simplest way to cut a large result set down.
Step 2: Select your data sets
Move to the Data Sets tab and choose the collection you want. The portal covers satellite imagery, aerial photographs, and cartographic products, so the right choice depends on your goal:
- Satellite imagery — for example Landsat, which is widely used for land-cover and change studies.
- Aerial photographs — historical and recent airborne coverage.
- Cartographic products — maps and related products.
If you are unsure which collection fits, start broad, run the search, and use the preview in the Results step to judge whether the imagery is suitable before committing to a download or order.
Step 3: Add additional criteria
The Additional Criteria tab lets you filter further. Typical filters include cloud cover and other scene-level attributes. This is where you reduce noise: a low cloud-cover threshold removes scenes that would be unusable for visual interpretation, and geographic filters help you stay within the 100-record cap.
Step 4: Review and retrieve results
The Results tab shows your matches along with a "Total Results Approximated" count and a summary of what you searched:
- the data sets you selected,
- your area of interest,
- the criteria you applied.
Use the preview to confirm image quality and coverage before downloading or submitting an order. If the preview looks wrong — wrong season, too much cloud, off-target footprint — go back and adjust rather than downloading a poor scene.
Common problems and how to fix them
| Problem | Likely cause | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| No results | Area, date range, or dataset too narrow, or mismatched | Widen the date range, switch datasets, or redraw a larger area |
| Too many results / hit the 100-record limit | Area or criteria too broad | Add a Country, Feature Class, or Feature Type; tighten the date range; lower cloud cover |
| Wrong scenes returned | Path/Row or WRS type mismatch | Confirm whether the scene is indexed under WRS2 or WRS1 and re-enter |
| Area not recognized | Uploaded file format or geocoder input issue | Use a supported format (GeoJSON, KML, Shapefile) or switch to map click or coordinates |
Practical notes
- Login and ordering: EarthExplorer has a Login and a Help/Feedback area, and the workflow includes an order step for products that are not immediately downloadable. Treat login requirements and any access conditions as things to confirm on the site rather than assuming a product is open.
- Start narrow, then expand. Because of the 100-record cap, it is usually faster to begin with a specific feature type and date window and loosen only if you get nothing.
- Preview before you commit. The preview step is the cheapest way to avoid downloading scenes that do not actually cover your target.
For help documentation and advanced map tools, use the Help link on the site; the interface notes that advanced map tools are covered there.