Remote Sensing & Satellite Imagery Coordinate Systems Guide
Satellite sensors capture Earth observation data across complex orbital paths and specialized map projections. Converting raster pixel coordinates (Row, Column) into ground coordinates (Latitude/Longitude, UTM, ECEF) requires understanding Ground Control Points (GCPs), Sensor Model Transformations, and Datum Transformations.
Interactive Satellite Raster Resolution & Grid Calculator
Select a satellite constellation to inspect its native coordinate reference system, spatial resolution, and calculate ground coverage:
1. Key Satellite Coordinate Systems
Different satellite missions store spatial data in distinct coordinate reference systems based on orbital geometry:
- Sentinel-2 (ESA): Tiled in 100km × 100km Military Grid Reference System (MGRS) tiles projected in UTM / WGS84.
- Landsat 8/9 (USGS/NASA): Delivered in Worldwide Reference System-2 (WRS-2) path/row tiles projected in UTM.
- MODIS & VIIRS (NASA): Projected in Global Sinusoidal Grid (EPSG:6842) for equal-area surface energy balance calculations.
Where Would You Like to Go Next?
Convert satellite bounding boxes or inspect specific coordinate formats: