NASA's MODIS instrument, aboard the Terra and Aqua satellites, captured images of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. The spill began on April 20, 2010, following the rig's

NASA's MODIS instrument, aboard the Terra and Aqua satellites, captured images of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. The spill began on April 20, 2010, following the rig's explosion.

A short video provides a space-based view of the burning rig and the ensuing oil slick through May 24, 2010. The slick, appearing grayish-beige, changed due to weather, ocean currents, and chemical dispersants.

The full image archive is available on the MODIS Rapid Response Web site: http://rapidfire.sci.gsfc.nasa.gov/. Credit: http://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/goto?10562