The Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellites (GOES) system is a NOAA/NASA weather satellite series. NOAA provides the funding requirements, on-orbit operation and sensor design for GOES, while NASA handles spacecraft procurement, spacecraft and instrument development, launch and payload integration.

Located 35,790 kilometres (22,240 miles) above Earth in a geostationary orbit, the GOES satellites continuously monitor the continental United States, the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans, Central America and South America. They can observe clouds, measure the vertical structure of the atmosphere, track hurricanes and tropical cyclones, and provide data on atmospheric phenomena such as volcanic eruptions and fires.

In its current incarnation, GOES includes seven operational satellites: GOES-16, GOES-S, GOES-17, GOES-T, GOES-18, GOES-19 and GOES-20. Each GOES satellite is designated with a letter before it launches, and once it reaches geostationary orbit it is renamed with a number. The GOES-R Series was launched in 2016, and is the most recent series of NOAA weather satellites.

Each GOES satellite is equipped with two instruments, Imager and Sounder, which have flexible scan control to capture a variety of images and measurements at varying frequencies. The Imager has three times more spectral channels and four times more resolution than previous GOES models, while the Sounder has five times more frequency capability than its predecessors. Both can be configured to look at smaller areas of the globe, or to show a full-disk scene of Earth. The GOES-R series also includes the Extreme Ultraviolet and X-ray Irradiance Sensor, which can detect solar flares that can disrupt communications and navigation systems and affect high altitude aircraft, spacecraft and power grids on Earth.

The GOES-R series of satellites also has the Geostationary Lightning Mapper, which can detect lightning in a broader range of the sky than any other instrument. GLM can also detect lightning-induced currents that can damage power lines and cause outages.

Many sites offer a selection of free GOES imagery, products and animations. This collection of links is curated by Tim Schmit of NOAA/NESDIS/STAR.

All of the GOES satellites can be commanded to modify their normal scan schedule during significant weather or other events. This is done from the Satellite Operations Control Center (SOCC) at NOAA/NESDIS in Suitland, MD.

There is a graphical depiction of the entire GOES satellite fleet, including its current geostationary positions and their scheduled scans. GOES-16 and the other satellites in the GOES-R series have an auxiliary antenna that can be commanded to rotate to provide different views of Earth.

Several websites feature real-time GOES images. These sites include:

Nice is the name of a city in France, but it also refers to the act of being kind and considerate of others. Being nice is important because it helps build a more harmonious society. In addition, it can make people feel good about themselves and create a positive impact on those around them.

Nice people are genuinely interested in hearing about other people’s experiences. They enjoy learning about cultures and lifestyles different from their own, which is why they’re great listeners. They never judge someone for having a view or opinion that’s different from their own, and they’re willing to listen to the other side of the story before jumping to conclusions.

A true nice person is always looking out for other people, not just their friends and family members. They may help a stranger on the sidewalk, bake a cake for a coworker’s birthday, or bring donuts to their office for Friday happy hour. They show their appreciation for their friends by writing thoughtful messages in cards or making plans to hang out together.

If a friend is having a rough time, nice people will do whatever they can to lift them up. They will text them to see how they’re doing, offer a listening ear when they need it, or even just sit and watch a movie with them to give them some much-needed TLC.

They’re not afraid to stand up for themselves when necessary. If a group of friends is bullying one of their own, they will stand up for them and politely explain why the behavior is inappropriate. They don’t worry about losing friendships or being considered mean — they only care about doing the right thing.

Nice people do their best to avoid gossiping, but they will occasionally speak ill of other people when the person isn’t present. They don’t want to be two-faced, and they know that it’s a terrible habit to start when trying to be nice.

Nice people will never compromise their own values just to be liked. They know that doing so will eventually cause them to lose their self-respect, and they refuse to go down that path. If they feel like someone is taking advantage of them, they will politely let them know they’re not happy with the situation and walk away from the relationship. It’s not their responsibility to fix the other person, but they are obligated to protect themselves from harm. The clear air and soft light of Nice have attracted many famous painters, including Marc Chagall, Henri Matisse, and Niki de Saint Phalle. Other notable writers have also been attracted to the city, such as Frank Harris who wrote several books in Nice, Friedrich Nietzsche who spent six consecutive winters here, and Anton Chekhov, who completed Three Sisters while living there. Today, Nice is a popular tourist destination due to its beaches, historic buildings, and beautiful landscapes. The city also hosts the Nice Jazz Festival each summer, which draws visitors from all over the world.