Hear about the latest cutting-edge satellite research and developments in how we observe the Earth from space with Professor John Remedios, Director of the National Centre for Earth Observation.

The Royal Observatory Greenwich's annual Christmas lecture is held in the Peter Harrison Planetarium, and features talks from pioneering figures in astronomy and space science.

Book tickets

Lecture title: Observing the Earth from Space - Hot to cold and glowing!

Satellites orbiting the Earth are enabling us to explore our own planet in ways we could not have believed possible only a few decades ago. From the inspiring vantage point of space, we can see the whole world and its tiniest details, and through increasingly long-lived satellite missions we are able to track change, both productive and detrimental. In this lecture, we will explore how satellite observations enable us to get to grips with our own fascinating world, illustrated by that most fundamental characteristic of a planet, temperature, and all its consequences.

How is temperature a marker of change? How does it control Earth’s infrared glow? How does it shift our planet’s environment and climate in both small and truly disruptive ways through intense heat and freezing cold? The intrinsic nature of temperature challenges us to observe the many other aspects of the planet which are implicated with it, and the new fleets of satellites are rising to that challenge.

We will see some key examples of the most advanced satellite instruments in action. In the end, we'll begin to understand and debate what it is about our planet that makes it one in a billion Earth-like planets or at least 1 in 5000 of the known exoplanets, and how sensitive is it to change.

About the speaker: Professor John Remedios

John is Head and Professor of Earth Observation Science (EOS), Department of Physics and Astronomy at the University of Leicester. He has been the Director of the National Centre for Earth Observation since October 2014.

Be part of a UK-wide science network

The Royal Observatory Greenwich is actively involved with the UK Space Agency to teach and promote the use of satellite imagery to tackle climate change.

22 science centres and museums across the UK are participating in the Our World From Space programme. Find out more about the other partners and their projects here.

Our World From Space is a two-year national STEM programme exploring the relevance of UK space science for the future health and sustainability of our home planet, funded by UK Space Agency in partnership with Natural Environment Research Council (NERC), part of UK Research and Innovation. Royal Museums Greenwich are delivery partners for OWFS.

Main image: Satellite photograph of Great Britain and Ireland during the summer 2022 heatwave (Image courtesy of the Earth Science and Remote Sensing Unit, NASA Johnson Space Center/Expedition 67 Crew)