Landsat MSS band numbering β€” why does it differ across satellites?

maybe landsat

MSS flew on Landsat 1/2 and Landsat 4/5 β€” but the bands got renumbered. Same wavelengths, new numbers:

  • 🟩 Green (0.5–0.6 Β΅m) β€” L1/2: B4 β†’ L4/5: B1
  • πŸŸ₯ Red (0.6–0.7 Β΅m) β€” L1/2: B5 β†’ L4/5: B2
  • πŸŸͺ NIR-1 (0.7–0.8 Β΅m) β€” L1/2: B6 β†’ L4/5: B3
  • πŸŸͺ NIR-2 (0.8–1.1 Β΅m) β€” L1/2: B7 β†’ L4/5: B4

⚠️ MSS has no blue band β€” visible spectrum starts at green. That’s why MSS imagery can’t be made into natural-color composites.