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September 12, 2026 - Hispaniola
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The second largest island of the West Indies, Hispaniola stretches about 404 miles (650 km) in length and roughly 140 miles (241 km) at its widest point. Two countries share the island, with the Republic of Haiti in the west and the Dominican Republic in the east.
Mountains fill much of the rugged landscape, with more than one-third of the island lying higher than 1,500 feet (457 meters). The Dominican Republic holds the highest peak on the island—and in the Caribbean. This is Duarte Peak, which rises to 10,417 feet (3,175 meters).
The Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) on NASA’s Terra satellite acquired this true-color image centered on Hispaniola on September 5, 2026. The eastern tip of Cuba can be seen to the west. Due north is Turks and Caicos while Great Inagua Island, Bahamas sits between Cuba and Turks and Caicos. The shiny color in the eastern section of the image is an optical phenomenon called “sun glint”. It is created when sunlight reflects off water directly back at the sensor, creating a mirror-like glare.
Image Facts
Satellite:
Terra
Date Acquired: 9/5/2026
Resolutions:
1km (713 KB), 500m (2 MB), 250m (1.4 MB)
Bands Used: 1,4,3
Image Credit:
MODIS Land Rapid Response Team, NASA GSFC
The second largest island of the West Indies, Hispaniola stretches about 404 miles (650 km) in length and roughly 140 miles (241 km) at its widest point. Two countries share the island, with the Republic of Haiti in the west and the Dominican Republic in the east.
Mountains fill much of the rugged landscape, with more than one-third of the island lying higher than 1,500 feet (457 meters). The Dominican Republic holds the highest peak on the island—and in the Caribbean. This is Duarte Peak, which rises to 10,417 feet (3,175 meters).
The Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) on NASA’s Terra satellite acquired this true-color image centered on Hispaniola on September 5, 2026. The eastern tip of Cuba can be seen to the west. Due north is Turks and Caicos while Great Inagua Island, Bahamas sits between Cuba and Turks and Caicos. The shiny color in the eastern section of the image is an optical phenomenon called “sun glint”. It is created when sunlight reflects off water directly back at the sensor, creating a mirror-like glare.
Image Facts
Satellite:
Terra
Date Acquired: 9/5/2026
Resolutions:
1km (713 KB), 500m (2 MB), 250m (1.4 MB)
Bands Used: 1,4,3
Image Credit:
MODIS Land Rapid Response Team, NASA GSFC
