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July 5, 2026 - Aegean Sea
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On July 1, 2026, the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) on NASA’s Aqua satellite acquired this true-color image of the Aegean Sea.
The Aegean Sea, considered an arm of the Mediterranean Sea, sits between Greece in the west and Asia Minor on the east. It is connected to the Black Sea, in the north, by the straits of the Dardanelles, the Sea or Marmara, and the Bosporus. The Aegean spans roughly 83,000 square miles (214,970 sq km) in total area, measuring 380 miles (612 km) north to south and 190 miles (306 km) east to west. The numerous islands can be divided into several groups: Dodecanese, Cyclades, Sporades, Saronic islands and the North Aegean Islands. Crete and its surrounding islands are another cluster. Most of the islands belong to Greece and some belong to Turkey; a few are claimed by both countries.
The waters of the Aegean trend towards being nutrient poor, which means it supports relatively little phytoplankton. Nonetheless, the waters support populations of numerous fish species, including blennies, cardinal fish, eels, electric rays, groupers, and scorpion fish as well as dolphins and seals. Algae, kelp, and sea grasses are found in the Aegean as are sponges, sea urchins, octopus, squid, and cuttlefish.
Image Facts
Satellite:
Aqua
Date Acquired: 7/1/2026
Resolutions:
1km (92.7 KB), 500m (233 KB), 250m (271.7 KB)
Bands Used: 1,4,3
Image Credit:
MODIS Land Rapid Response Team, NASA GSFC
On July 1, 2026, the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) on NASA’s Aqua satellite acquired this true-color image of the Aegean Sea.
The Aegean Sea, considered an arm of the Mediterranean Sea, sits between Greece in the west and Asia Minor on the east. It is connected to the Black Sea, in the north, by the straits of the Dardanelles, the Sea or Marmara, and the Bosporus. The Aegean spans roughly 83,000 square miles (214,970 sq km) in total area, measuring 380 miles (612 km) north to south and 190 miles (306 km) east to west. The numerous islands can be divided into several groups: Dodecanese, Cyclades, Sporades, Saronic islands and the North Aegean Islands. Crete and its surrounding islands are another cluster. Most of the islands belong to Greece and some belong to Turkey; a few are claimed by both countries.
The waters of the Aegean trend towards being nutrient poor, which means it supports relatively little phytoplankton. Nonetheless, the waters support populations of numerous fish species, including blennies, cardinal fish, eels, electric rays, groupers, and scorpion fish as well as dolphins and seals. Algae, kelp, and sea grasses are found in the Aegean as are sponges, sea urchins, octopus, squid, and cuttlefish.
Image Facts
Satellite:
Aqua
Date Acquired: 7/1/2026
Resolutions:
1km (92.7 KB), 500m (233 KB), 250m (271.7 KB)
Bands Used: 1,4,3
Image Credit:
MODIS Land Rapid Response Team, NASA GSFC
