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Cooperative Institute for Meteorological Satellite Studies

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45th Anniversary of the First Geostationary Image

Launched on 06 December 1966, ATS-1 was the first meteorological satellite to provide geostationary images. These first images seen below are from 11 December 1966. QuickTime movies showing animations of some of the early ATS-1 images are available on the Schwerdtfeger Library Verner Suomi Web site.

ATS-1 visible image, 17:32 UTC 11 December 1966 (click to enlarge)

ATS-1 visible image, 20:00 UTC 11 December 1966 (click to enlarge)

ATS-1 visible image, 21:34 UTC 11 December 1966 (click to enlarge)

ATS-1 visible image, 23:07 UTC 11 December 1966 (click to enlarge)