Reading public data without overreading the map

Four checks before sharing a conclusion

1. Identify the kind of record. A flight receiver report, an orbital prediction and a thermal detection answer different questions. A position shown on the same globe does not make them equally current or precise.
2. Read the observation time. Page load time is not measurement time. Check the provider timestamp, its time zone and any last-seen or stale indicator before calling a record live.
3. Compare equivalent time windows. A current position and a fire detection from an earlier satellite pass should not be described as simultaneous. Keep the original timestamps in any note or screenshot.
4. Return to the primary source. Follow the source links below to verify important claims, revisions and official notices. If the provider cannot confirm a claim, describe it as unverified.

Our practical rule is to write an observation sentence before an interpretation sentence. For example: "A position was last reported at this time" is supported by a timestamp. "The aircraft is currently at that position" requires a current observation. The second sentence becomes less defensible as the age of the report grows.

What the main sources can tell you

Aircraft: receiver coverage is part of the picture

Public aircraft feeds aggregate position reports received by a network of ground stations. Terrain, receiver density, reception range and aircraft equipment affect what is visible. A track ending near the edge of coverage is not evidence of a landing or an incident. Reported altitude and map terrain can also use different reference systems; a visual overlap is not a reliable clearance measurement.

When inspecting a track, compare several reports and retain the last-seen time. If an identifier or destination is absent, leave it unknown. A callsign alone does not prove the identity of a passenger or the purpose of a journey. See OpenSky Network and ADSB.lol for upstream context. The selected feed and availability may vary.

Earthquakes: location and magnitude may be revised

The earthquake layer uses public event records. A point marks a reported epicenter; it does not outline the area that experienced shaking. Depth, local geology and distance matter when considering possible effects. Early event solutions may change as more measurements are processed, so preserve the event ID and check its latest revision.

A useful comparison is between the event's origin time, its last update and the time you viewed it. These represent different steps in the reporting process. Check the USGS earthquake map and USGS feed documentation for event details rather than treating marker size as an impact estimate.

Thermal detections: a hotspot is not a fire perimeter

NASA FIRMS distributes satellite observations of thermal anomalies. A detection represents a sensor observation at a particular overpass time and resolution. It is not a street-level report. Clouds, sensor geometry and the interval between passes affect the picture; an empty area on the layer does not establish that there is no fire.

For a cluster, compare acquisition times and sensor information before interpreting its extent. Multiple points can reflect repeated observations of the same general area. Use the NASA FIRMS map and documentation for the source record. Operational decisions should follow the responsible local authority's current notices.

Satellites: predicted position is not a photograph

Orbital elements describe an orbit at an epoch. Software propagates those elements to estimate a position at the requested time. An animation can therefore be smooth even when the orbital elements are older. Accuracy depends on the age of the elements, the model and changes to the orbit.

A satellite marker above a place does not show that the satellite took an image of it, or identify a sensor's target. Distinguish the orbit estimate from an observation product. The CelesTrak source provides orbital data and explanatory material.

Basemaps: reference imagery has its own date

Imagery provides geographic context, not a live camera view. Different areas can be captured on different dates, and a detailed building model can predate the event shown by another layer. Roads, place names and imagery can disagree because their update cycles differ. Preserve the on-map attribution and consult the selected map provider when the age or license of imagery matters.

Worked examples: what is justified?

These examples are hypothetical. They explain a method and do not report real incidents.

A flight disappears beside a coast

Suppose the last aircraft report is twelve minutes old and its track ends offshore. The supported statement is that the selected feed has not supplied a newer report. Possible explanations include reception gaps, delayed upstream delivery or filtering. Nothing in that observation alone establishes a diversion, landing or emergency.

Check the last report time, compare the provider's coverage and consult an independent source if one is available. If no newer record exists, keep the last-known position visibly separate from a current-position claim.

A hotspot appears close to an earthquake

Suppose a thermal detection and an earthquake marker appear near each other. Before connecting them, compare the acquisition time of the detection with the earthquake's origin time. A detection from the preceding night cannot establish a consequence of a later earthquake.

Even matching times and nearby locations establish only a correlation to investigate. Check the source records, the detection's resolution and independent official reporting. Do not label a causal relationship from the overlay alone.

A satellite passes above a city

Suppose an animated orbital marker crosses the city at the time shown. This supports a statement about the displayed prediction, subject to its orbital data and model. It does not establish camera activity, cloud-free imagery, a ground target or the availability of a new image. For those claims, find an actual observation product with its acquisition time and provider metadata.

Coverage, responsibility and corrections

Gods Eye is a public-data exploration tool. It is not an official flight-navigation, maritime-navigation, emergency-warning or surveillance service. It cannot establish intent, identify people from location markers or guarantee that every event is represented. Provider outages, rate limits and incomplete regional coverage can leave gaps.

For notes you intend to publish, retain the source name, original record ID where available, observation time with time zone, access time and any known uncertainty. A screenshot without these details can make an old or predicted position look like a live observation. Do not remove provider credits when sharing imagery.

For a factual issue with a feed, start with the primary provider's record. For a problem specific to this deployment, contact anirudh@silvrixai.com with the layer, timestamp and a public example link. Please omit phone numbers, credentials and other private information. Corrections to these notes will be reflected in the updated date.

Our source selection follows the upstream project's documented integrations. Linking to a provider does not imply endorsement. The project's code license does not transfer rights to third-party datasets or imagery; each provider retains its own terms.