Launched a year ago on Feb. 11, the Landsat 8 satellite has been capturing incredible images of Earth. As beautiful as these images are, the true value of this satellite lies in its connection to the past. The Landsat mission, launched by NASA and operated by the USGS, is in its 42nd continuous year of recording the state of the Earth’s surface. The longevity of this dataset is unparalleled and has truly changed our understanding of the ever-changing life of our planet.

Landsat 8 is also far more capable than its older sibling, adding more instruments and more scientific possibilities than ever before. And yes, the images just keep getting more beautiful too. Here are some of our favorites from the satellite’s first year in orbit.