A startup is printing giant photos of Earth from space, and they're gorgeous
My Orbiter; DigitalGlobe
Our view from the ground is a myopically thin slice of reality.
Satellites in space, however, can record unparalleled views of Earth — from its beautiful natural landscapes to expanding human cities — in stunning detail.
To bring those views closer to home, a group of architects, urban planners, mapmakers, and scientists formed My Orbiter.
The company curates, prints, and sells more than 100 of the best satellite images available as huge, ultra-high-resolution photo prints.
"We believe that education and science can make our planet a better place and that by giving people a way to bring this new perspective into their homes, we empower and remind people of who we are and the impact we have on our world," Owen de Lancie, one of the company's founders, told Business Insider in an email.
Here are a few of My Orbiter's favorite images, all of which were taken by DigitalGlobe — a company that operates multiple Earth-observing space satellites — and Landsat-8, a spacecraft run by NASA and the USGS.
Grand Canal — Venice, Italy
My OrbiterMore than 170 buildings line the banks of Italy's most famous canal, many of them built between the 13th and 18th centuries.
"Venice has sunk 9 inches in the last century and currently floods about 100 times a year — a phenomenon called the acqua alta," de Lancie said. "Now, after much research, underwater 'mobile' gates are being built on the floor of the sea where the open sea enters Venice's lagoon. When the seawater rises above a certain level, air will be pumped into the gates, causing them to rise and shut out the Adriatic."
Tulip fields — Lisse, Netherlands
My OrbiterHundreds of tulip fields surround the town, feeding a huge international market for the multi-colored flowers.
"The studied precision of the rectangular fields is not result of aesthetics. It is part of the businesslike efficiency of an industry that has made tulip bulbs one of Holland's leading exports — and the central character in one of the 17th century's strangest economic stories," de Lancie said. "Tulipmania, speculation in tulip bulbs, was a mania that led to the world's first stock market bubble."
The Arc de Triomphe — Paris, France
My OrbiterThe Arc de Triomphe is a monument at the center of twelve avenues that form a star.
"Built to honor the victories of Napoleon Bonaparte, it was finished after he died in 1821 and it was only his remains, brought back from his exile on Saint Helena, that passed under the grand arch in 1840," de Lancie said. "It is now the resting place of the Unknown Soldier from WWI and an iconic background for many victory celebrations."
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