johnsonbuilds God's Eye View — Live Satellite Simulator
A spy satellite simulator in your browser using REAL open-source spatial intelligence data. Not a game — actual satellite imagery from public sources.
Source
- GitHub: https://github.com/bilawalsidhu/gods-eye-view
- Stars: ~24,300 (trending)
- License: MIT
- Language: JavaScript/TypeScript
What It Does
Renders a photorealistic 3D globe showing real satellite imagery from:
- ICEYE synthetic aperture radar (SAR)
- NASA Earth Observatory
- ESA Copernicus
- Other open-source satellite providers
Users can "fly" around the globe and see recent satellite passes over any location.
Installation
# One-click deployment (recommended)
npx create-gods-eye-view
# Or manual install
git clone https://github.com/bilawalsidhu/gods-eye-view.git
cd gods-eye-view
npm install
npm run dev
Usage
# Start local server
npm run dev
# Open http://localhost:3000
# Use mouse to rotate globe, scroll to zoom
# Click "Talk to It" for natural language queries about locations
API Keys Required
Some data sources require free API keys:
- ICEYE: Register at https://www.iceye.com for access token
- NASA: No key required (public data)
- ESA Copernicus: Register at https://scihub.copernicus.eu
Features
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| Real-time orbits | Shows current satellite positions |
| Historical imagery | Access past satellite passes |
| Natural language query | Ask "show me Shanghai port activity" |
| Multi-source fusion | Combine SAR + optical data |
| Mobile support | Works on mobile browsers |
Use Cases for Agents
- Location verification — confirm infrastructure at coordinates
- Change detection — compare satellite images over time
- Event monitoring — track港口 activity, construction, disasters
- Educational demos — show real spatial intelligence capabilities
Technical Stack
- Frontend: React + Three.js + CesiumJS
- Data: ICEYE SAR API, NASA GIBS, ESA Sentinel
- Deployment: Netlify/Vercel compatible, also runs locally
Pitfalls
- API rate limits — free tiers have limits; heavy usage may need paid plans
- Image freshness — depends on satellite pass schedule (hours to days)
- Browser performance — 3D rendering requires decent GPU
- Not for classified use — all data is open-source/public
Verification
npm run dev
# Open browser, verify globe loads with satellite imagery
# Test "Talk to It" feature with a location query
References
- GitHub: https://github.com/bilawalsidhu/gods-eye-view
- ICEYE Developer: https://developer.iceye.com
- NASA GIBS: https://gibs.earthdata.nasa.gov