TL;DR: Creepy satellite images go viral; people use mapping tools to make discoveries; filmmakers and game producers use satellite imagery to create realistic depictions of space and immersive storytelling; strange land formations, hidden islands, giant shipwrecks, and unexplained geometric patterns are among viral internet phenomena.
In 1972, the crew of Apollo 17 captured the Blue Marble, which remains among the most iconic images of the Earth. According to biochemist Gregory Petsko, the image perfectly represents the condition of “living on an island in the universe.” The image is now widely recognized as setting the stage for environmental activism in the US.
Satellite images are captured through satellite sensors, aerial photos, drones, and other remote sensing technologies without firsthand experience or physical contact. Algorithms refine these data to describe locations and phenomena in the atmosphere and on the Earth’s surface.
What do satellites reveal?
One of the first uses of satellite images was to demonstrate seasonal vegetation change. They have evolved to assume a thought-provoking role in pop and internet culture. Creepy Google Earth coordinates like the Face in the Desert in Nevada can and have gone viral. People are using Google Earth to make discoveries worldwide, from the biggest logo of Coca-Cola (Chile) to a possible secret military facility (China).
Films like Interstellar and Gravity have used satellite imagery to create realistic depictions of space, while TV shows and video games integrate satellite views for immersive storytelling and gameplay. Satellite imagery has played a key role in shaping viral internet phenomena by offering breathtaking, mysterious, and sometimes eerie perspectives of Earth that captivate online audiences. Platforms like Google Earth and NASA’s satellite feeds have uncovered strange land formations, hidden islands, and even abandoned structures that fuel conspiracy theories and internet debates.
Discoveries of giant shipwrecks, unexplained geometric patterns in deserts, or oddly pixelated areas spark curiosity and speculation. This leads to widespread sharing and discussion on social media. Satellite images feed global fascination or amusement and fuel memes and reactions in general. An example is the church in Dixon, Illinois, which looked normal to everyone until the satellite image showed it was actually shaped like a male sex organ, which social media users were the first to notice. The architects hadn’t noticed this flaw until the satellite images went viral. The church took this form after it was renovated in 2011.
Common issues with satellite images
Fast forward to 2025: social media users recently took notice of a small plot of land along the Los Angeles River in Lincoln Heights, which ignited conspiracy theories and raised concerns about human trafficking and drug cartels. On this piece of land, which is property of the Union Pacific Railroad, the word “help” has been spelled out at least ten times. “LAPD” and “FBI” are spelled out, too, as well as the Spanish words for “trafficking” and “terrorism.” The image may have gone viral, but the LAPD has yet to confirm any illicit activities are occurring at the site.
Another example of a misleading image involves the Festival of Lights in Diwali, India. During this festival, many Hindus decorate their homes, stores, and shrines with lights and clay lamps. However, the satellite image doesn’t show lights, which are too small to be seen from space. It combines several different images intended to draw attention to population growth in India.
Final thoughts
On a final note, satellite image quality depends on the resolution, but one must validate even high-resolution images on the ground to make sure the interpretation is trustworthy. Remote data was misused in 2003 in Iraq when satellite images supposedly revealed sites of weapons of mass destruction. They showed what were falsely identified as areas where the Earth had been moved to hide chemical production and active chemical munitions bunkers.
