Which function allows satellites to avoid direct overhead imaging?

Off-nadir viewing is the function that allows satellites to capture images at angles other than directly overhead, or nadir. This capability is significant because it enables satellites to gather data about areas that might otherwise be obscured or less accessible when viewed from directly above. By tilting the imaging sensor during data collection, satellites can acquire information from a broader area and at different perspectives, leading to enhanced data for applications like monitoring natural disasters, urban development, and environmental changes. This method is particularly useful in minimizing shadows and identifying features that may not be as clearly visible from a nadir perspective.

Radiometric resolution pertains to the sensitivity of a sensor to different wavelengths of light and refers to how well a sensor can capture the differences in the intensity of radiation. Temporal resolution refers to how frequently a satellite can revisit the same area to capture data over time. Spatial analysis involves the techniques and methods used to examine spatial data once it has been collected but does not pertain to how the satellite positions itself for imaging.