To determine the number of spectral bands that Landsat 8 has, we need to understand the design and capabilities of the Landsat 8 satellite.
- Landsat 8: A satellite launched as part of the Landsat program, providing continuous observation of the Earth's surface. It carries two main instruments: the Operational Land Imager (OLI) and the Thermal Infrared Sensor (TIRS).
- Spectral Bands: Different ranges of wavelengths within the electromagnetic spectrum that the satellite sensors can detect. Each band provides unique information about the Earth's surface.
Landsat 8's OLI sensor captures data in nine spectral bands in the visible, near-infrared, and shortwave-infrared portions of the spectrum. The TIRS sensor captures data in two thermal infrared bands.
Combining the bands from both the OLI and TIRS sensors: 9 (OLI bands) + 2 (TIRS bands) = 11 bands.
LANDSAT 8 has 11 bands.