Oslo, Norway

Oslo is the capital and largest city in Norway. Founded in 1048, the city was rebuilt after a disastrous fire in 1648, and re-named Christiania. In 1925, the city reclaimed its original name, Oslo. With the discovery of vast reserves of oil in the North Sea, Norway has become one of the wealthiest countries in the world, and in 2009 Oslo became the world's most expensive city. Oslo's ~900,000 inhabitants live along and at the end of the 60km long Oslofjord. This image was acquired August 26, 2000, covers an area of 35.4 x 41.2 km, and is located at 59.9 degrees north latitude, 10.8 degrees east longitude.

With its 14 spectral bands from the visible to the thermal infrared wavelength region and its high spatial resolution of 15 to 90 meters (about 50 to 300 feet), ASTER images Earth to map and monitor the changing surface of our planet. ASTER is one of five Earth-observing instruments launched December 18, 1999, on NASA's Terra spacecraft. The instrument was built by Japan's Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry.

Photo credit: NASA/GSFC/METI/ERSDAC/JAROS, and U.S./Japan ASTER Science Team