This image is a mosaic (color composite) of hundreds of satellite images, reveals the entire Earth in natural color, unobstructed by clouds. This satellite topographical map is both beautiful and accurate.

The extent of desert is staggering, and the rich, deep oceans show up wonderfully. Through the use of NOAA satellites that follow a polar route, thousands of individual satellite images were combined to produce the truest image of what the Earth looks like. The mosaic, not unlike a jigsaw puzzle, was assembled over a 14 month period of time.