Satellite Image of the Day: October 21, 2004
(click here for previous images of the day from RUSMART)

NOAA's Hydrometeorologial Prediction Center (HPC) "Daily National Forecast" image shows a daily national weather prediction

Satellites: NOAA-15 and NOAA-17, part of NOAA's 850km-high (530 mile-high) Polar Orbiting satellites

The Straits of Florida and the Florida Keys
This early-morning image shows the Florida Keys, islands off of the southern tip of Florida.
These islands are formed, maintained and continually altered by ocean currents. making them non-permanent structures as are all barrier islands.
"Highway 1" goes down the eastern coast of Florida and ends along the Keys.
And of course, Key West is the last--and probably most famous--of these islands.
This image also shows just how close Cuba (south of the tip of Florida) and Florida are to each other.
The Bahama Islands are seen to the east of Florida.
Also note how the early-morning clouds throw sharp shadows quite a ways due to the low angle of the sun.
Click on the image below for a higher-resolution (~100k) version.