This tutorial is designed to show you some of the features of the USGS Earth Explorer interface (currently only available for PC's) and how to acquire a broad range of satellite images. The images that you can acquire from this site are preview images that are relatively small and not high resolution. The high resolution images are for sale from USGS, however the preview images are more than adequate for the Virtual Farm Projects.

Aerial photography (digital orthophoto quadrangles (DOQs). Seen on the right. The coverage of these images is for the entire US from the early 1990's. Be aware that these images are NOT NASA imagery. You may want to use images of this type in your project but you will need NASA imagery incorporated as well.
Satellite imagery (Landsat, AVHRR, Corona) Seen on the right. There appears to be coverage of this type on imagery for the entire earth. These images are NASA imagery and use of this type of image would qualify for the NASA image requirement in the final project.       Landsat 7 Image

1) Click on the link to the Earth Explorer (opens new window). I suggest becoming a registered user. The process is free and you get access to more features.

2) Go through the registration process, then login using your user name and password that you created. (Note that you will be asked to install the EarthExplorer plugin. You must do this to use the website.)

3) After you login a screen like the right appears. Note the red text....on the top click to define a location on a map. This is the easiest way that I have found. You may also use one of the other choices. Click here to learn to interact with the map interface.     4) The lower part of the screen is used after selecting the location. It is selection of the data to search for. Click on the plus to expand and see details. If you click on the plus for aerial photography you will get an image like below left. Check digital orthophoto quadrangle. Under satellite imagery check all the boxes ( like below right image). DOQ and satellite images are the only imagery available with preview imagery.   5) Click Continue to enter your area and data that you want to search the database for. (Note if you ever want to return to the selection screen click the Data Sets link in the navigation bar at the top/bottom of the results screen.) Click here to go on.