Earth from Space in 2017: DigitalGlobe's Most Impactful Photos

To commemorate some of the biggest global news events of 2017, the satellite imaging company DigitalGlobe has released photos of significant scenes from around the world as seen from space. HERE: Before SpaceX launched the first mission with both a reused orbital rocket and reused cargo craft on Dec. 15, DigitalGlobe photographed the Falcon 9 rocket on the launchpad.

Late in 2014, an island formed from underwater volcanic eruptions in the Kingdom of Tonga. This image from DigitalGlobe’s WorldView-2 satellite, taken on June 29, 2017, shows the newly formed island connecting two previously separate islands. The island of Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha’apai is the first of its kind to maintain its composition in over 50 years.

Millions of people across the U.S. joined together on Jan. 21, 2017, marching for women’s rights, racial equality, environmental protection and other causes, forming the largest protest in U.S. history. This image shows crowds participating in Denver, Colorado.

The Al Shayrat airfield suffered significant damage after the U.S. military launched 59 Tomahawk missiles on April 7, 2017 in response to a chemical weapons attack in Syria.

During the Route 91 Harvest Music Festival on Oct. 1, 2017, a gunman fired over 1,100 rounds into a crowd from the Mandalay Bay hotel across the street.

This Pyongsong factory is believed to be producing the Hwasong-15 intercontinental ballistic missiles North Korea launched in a series of increasingly capable ballistic missile tests in 2017. This image from DigitalGlobe’s WorldView-2 satellite was taken on Nov. 21, 2017.

After three years of being known as the de facto capital of the Islamic State in Syria, Raqqa was liberated by U.S.-backed Syrian militias. On Oct. 9, 2017, Syrian forces gathered in Raqqa’s Al-Naim square in the midst of city ruins.

In Mogadishu, the Somalian capital, a truck bomb exploded on Oct. 14, 2017, killing 512 and injuring 316. This image shows the scar, evidence of the most deadly terror attack of 2017.

Over 20 million people in Yemen, Somalia, South Sudan and Nigeria are suffering from a serious famine. This image from the WorldView-2 satellite shows a refugee camp in Dikwa, Borno State, Nigeria, one of the most heavily affected areas of the famine.

Puerto Cabello, previously Venezuela’s busiest shipping port, offers evidence of the years-long economic crisis in Venezuela, with a dramatic drop in import traffic. Puerto Cabello is seen here in an image taken by the WorldView-2 satellite on April 28, 2017.

Following what has been deemed a genocide in Myanmar, over half a million Rohingya Muslims escaped to Bangladesh, including to the Nayapara refugee camp. This image, taken by DigitalGlobe’s WorldView-2 satellite on Nov. 5, 2017 shows the Nayapara refugee camp in Bangladesh.

For the first time since 1918, a total solar eclipse crossed the entire continental U.S. on Aug. 21, 2017, and eclipse watchers turned out in droves, as seen at this encampment in Big Summit Prairie, Oregon.

The Catalan Parliament voted to become independent from Spain on Oct. 27, 2017. In response, the Spanish Senate imposed direct rule. Here the Catalan Parliament building in Barcelona is pictured.

After 37 years in power in Zimbabwe, Robert Mugabe stepped down on Nov. 21, 2017, following a military coup. Mugabe was placed under house arrest at “Blue Roof,” his palace in Harare, which is pictured in this satellite view from DigitalGlobe’s WorldView-2 satellite.