Earth Observation
NASA's dedicated water-cycle observatory, monitoring evaporation, cloud formation, precipitation, sea ice, and ocean temperature to track how water moves through Earth's climate system.
Position is computed in real time using two-line element (TLE) orbital data from CelesTrak and the SGP4 propagation model — the same standard used across the satellite tracking industry.
The globe recalculates Aqua's position continuously, and refreshes its orbital elements from CelesTrak every few minutes to keep predictions accurate as the orbit naturally decays and is corrected.
Also see Tiangong (CSS), NOAA-20 (JPSS-1), GOES-16, or browse the full satellite catalog.