How to animate weather satellite imagery using "Gallery" (Android)

The AMS interactive infrared [weather] satellite image that works with a variety of devices in the Apple ecosystem also works with my Samsung Galaxy Tab A9+ (Android OS).

Black pixel = 20.5℃ (68.9℉).

Gray pixel = 10.0℃ (50℉).

White pixel = -45.0℃ (-49℉).

Create an animated GIF

"Gallery" is a native application in Samsung Android OS that can be used to animate the non-interactive infrared images, thereby creating a time lapse "video" of the Earth as seen from space. Animations enable the viewer to determine the direction and speed weather systems are moving.

Follow these simple directions to create an animated GIF using the "Gallery" app.

1. Open"Gallery."
2. Select several images.
3. Tap the three dots icon ("More" menu).
4. Select "Create" and choose "GIF."

As always, the devil is in the details but the preceding directions should get you started. For more information watch the two YouTube videos by "Samsung Care," listed under "Related Resources" (at the end of this blog post).

A 12-hour time series of non-interactive images was used to create the following animated GIFs. Notice the warm air advection moving from south-southwest to north-northeast across the southeastern United States of America. Also notice midday heating causes Mexico to "bloom" in dark gray-to-black pixels, indicating very warm land temperatures.

Animation created using "Gallery." Speed = 3 (default).

Animation created using "Gallery." Speed = 4.

Animation created using "Gallery." Speed = 5.

Animation created using "Gallery." Speed = 6.

Which animation speed do you prefer -- 3, 4, 5, or 6?

For comparison, "GIFfun" (Apple Mac OS) was used to create the last animation from the same 12-hour times series of images as the "Gallery" (Android OS) animations. As you can see, the results are similar for both applications.

Animation created using "GIFfun." Delay Time = 0.2 s.

Related Resources

• Create a GIF in your Galaxy phone using photos from the Gallery app | Samsung US (2:07) by Samsung Care
• Different ways to create GIFs on your Galaxy phone | Samsung US (3:30) by Samsung Care
• UTC/EST/EDT – a table listing equivalent times among Universal Time Coordinated (UTC), Eastern Standard Time (EST), and Eastern Daylight Time (EDT), rescued from the Wayback Machine Internet Archive
• Weather Calculators, including temperature conversion – a page of interactive calculators that still work, also rescued from the Wayback Machine Internet Archive
• How to animate weather satellite imagery using "GIFfun" (MacOS) - a blog post by Walter Sanford

Copyright © 2026 by Walter Sanford. All rights reserved.

How to animate weather satellite imagery using "GIFfun" (MacOS)

The AMS interactive infrared [weather] satellite image resulted from the collaboration between the American Meteorological Society (AMS) education initiatives and the Cooperative Institute for Meteorological Satellite Studies, University of Wisconsin-Madison.

Infrared imagery is one of three types of weather satellite imagery (including visible, infrared, and water vapor). Black, white, and shades of gray are used to represent temperatures from the tops of clouds and the land & water surfaces on Earth. Black is the hottest temperature; white is the coldest.

Red crosshairs highlights black to gray to white pixels.

A brief description of the interactive image says (incorrectly) "The images are created every three hours ..." — the images are actually updated every hour. Times are expressed in Universal Time Coordinated (UTC).

Have fun exploring the interactive infrared image. Then you might want to try animating a time series of non-interactive images.

Tech Tips

The interactive infrared [weather] satellite image was tested using my Apple iPad mini 2 and 6, Apple MacBook Air (13″, M1, 2020), and Apple iMac desktop computer (vintage 2009) and is compatible with all of those devices. Post update: The interactive IR satellite image also works with my Samsung Galaxy Tab A9+ (Android OS).

Did you notice both the non-interactive and interactive infrared images are GIF files? "GIFfun" is a free application for Apple MacOS that can be used to animate the non-interactive infrared images, thereby creating a time lapse "video" of the Earth as seen from space. Animations enable the viewer to determine the direction and speed weather systems are moving.

A 10-hour time series of non-interactive images was used to create the following animated GIFs. Notice the large scale mid-latitude wave cyclone moving from west to east across the central United States of America.

The default "Delay Time" ("the display time for each frame, in seconds") is 0.1 s, resulting in a faster version of the animation.

Faster version.

Slower version.

The following screenshot shows the settings for "GIFfun" that were used to create the slower version of the animation, shown above. Notice the "Delay Time" was doubled from 0.1 s to 0.2 s.

"GIFfun" settings for slower version.

Which version looks better? You decide.

Related Resources

• AMS interactive infrared [weather] satellite image – the American Meteorological Society (AMS) and the Cooperative Institute for Meteorological Satellite Studies, University of Wisconsin-Madison
• AMS Weather Satellites Teacher's Guide [PDF]
• Interactive infrared weather satellite image - a blog post by Walter Sanford
• AMS Interactive Infrared Weather Satellite Image – Making the Invisible Visible. A resource rescued from the Wayback Machine Internet Archive. I created this activity as an extra credit opportunity for my Grade 8 Physical Science students when we were studying energy and energy transformations. In retrospect the activity is probably too long to use “as is,” but it might serve as a data bank of questions that teachers could use to create their own version of the activity. For non-educators, the activity questions can help to guide your thinking about what you can tell from the interactive infrared imagery.
• UTC/EST/EDT – a table listing equivalent times among Universal Time Coordinated (UTC), Eastern Standard Time (EST), and Eastern Daylight Time (EDT), rescued from the Wayback Machine Internet Archive
• Weather Calculators, including temperature conversion – a page of interactive calculators that still work, also rescued from the Wayback Machine Internet Archive

Copyright © 2026 by Walter Sanford. All rights reserved.

Post update: Minor modifications of "Orbit" panoramic time lapse rig

My "no tools necessary" design for repurposing an "Orbit" two-hour mechanical hose watering timer as a timer for creating panoramic time lapse videos uses off-the-shelf, ready-to-use parts available at most hardware stores.

I bought the PVC parts at a nearby Loew's hardware store where the shortest length of pre-cut PVC pipe is two feet (2') ... so that's what I bought. After only one field test I knew I needed to use a shorter PVC pipe for mounting the "Orbit" timer on a photography tripod. The longer pipe in my original design worked well but isn't as portable as I would like. I found a vendor on Amazon that sells one foot (1') long pieces of PVC pipe; I ordered one and it was delivered the next day.

The first photo shows a wider view of the modified "Orbit" rig. The shorter PVC pipe was used instead of the longer pipe. The new PVC pipe fit together with the other PVC parts snugly and securely without using PVC glue.

Wider view showing one foot (1') long PVC pipe.

The last photo shows a closer view of the "Orbit" dial face, revealing my "cludgy" way of mounting a GoPro flat adhesive mount on the dial.

Closer view showing temporary attachment of flat adhesive mount.

Whenever possible my preference is to "do things the right way," meaning using official parts as they were designed to be used, rather than jerry-rigged solutions. In this case that would mean attaching the adhesive mount directly to the dial face, more or less permanently, but I just couldn't do that.

In Robert Pirsig's Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance, the beer can tab is a pivotal, symbolic, and practical moment where the narrator uses a piece of aluminum from a beer can to fix a slipping handlebar on his friend John's high-end BMW motorcycle. Source Credit: Google AI Overview.

So I added two pieces of clear packing tape to the "Orbit" dial face and attached the flat adhesive mount to the tape. The packing tape extends past the edge of the dial and is folded over on itself, forming a "pull tab" that can be used to remove the tape. Like I said, "cludgy" but it worked and I am comforted by the idea that I can remove the adhesive mount more easily than if it were mounted directly on the dial face.

As a result of my positive experience using the adhesive mount attached somewhat temporarily, I have softened my hardline opposition to using GoPro adhesive mounts. That being said, I will probably continue using my "cludgy" mounting method until I overcome my fear of long term commitment. Hah!

Related Resources

• VENTRAL PVC Pipe Sch40 3/4 Inch (0.75) White Custom Length 1FT Feet [~3/4" inner diameter, ~1" outer diameter]
• GoPro Flat Adhesive Mount
• Panoramic time lapse rig using "Orbit" two-hour mechanical hose watering timer - a blog post by Walter Sanford
• First field test: "Orbit" panoramic time lapse timer - another blog post by Walter Sanford

Copyright © 2026 by Walter Sanford. All rights reserved.

Radio controlled clock

Sometimes I wonder ...

Does anybody really know what time it is?

(Care) Does anybody really care?

Source Credit: "Does Anybody Really Know What Time It Is" by Chicago, from the album entitled "Chicago Transit Authority."

Does anybody really care about time? I do, especially now that I've reached the point in my life where the road ahead of me is shorter than the road behind me. Oh well, time marches on.

Recently I rediscovered one of two radio controlled clocks I own. Oregon Scientific, the vendor from which I bought the clocks, calls them "atomic clocks." They aren't atomic but they can receive a radio signal from the atomic clock operated by the National Institute of Standards (NIST), via radio station WWVB located in Fort Collins, Colorado USA.

The following photo shows the clock was receiving a strong signal from WWVB. This photo was taken indoors, two days after I was able sync my clock by going to the roof of the parking garage for the building where I live.

14 January 2026. Oregon Scientific RM806.

A few days later the clock was receiving a weaker signal from WWVB — too weak to sync the clock using the radio signal from WWVB.

17 January 2026. Oregon Scientific RM806.

The clock still works, but it doesn't update the time to match the exact time from NIST.

"... the RM806 Alarm Clock contains a very accurate quartz movement and will retain precise time even if a signal is missed on a rare occasion." Source Credit: Oregon Scientific RM806 User Manual, p. 7.

Looks like I'll need to revisit the roof occasionally in order to re-sync with WWVB.

Troubleshooting

When I tested the clock for the first time after "rediscovering" it, I used a couple of AAA batteries I've had on hand for quite a while. The clock worked but didn't sync to display the correct time and date, even when it was placed on a window sill for two days. I took the clock to the roof of the parking garage for the building where I live and reset the clock, but it still didn't sync.

Luis Acosta, my good friend and radio guru, suggested I use KiwiSDR to see whether the signal from WWVB can be received at my location. Turns out it can, at least it can be received at a location near mine. Notice the radio transmission is data only, no voice. [Select "USB" (Upper Sideband) and set the frequency for 59 or 60 kHz.]

KiwiSDR station located in Springfield, Virginia USA.

I don't recall seeing the low battery indicator on the clock display but I speculate the old batteries I used initially were too weak to power the radio properly.

"[BATT] Low Battery Indicator - This [BATT] icon indicates that it is time to change batteries." Source Credit: Oregon Scientific RM806 User Manual, p. 6.

So I bought a fresh set of batteries and went to the roof again. This time, the clock synced successfully after a few minutes on the roof.

Related Resources

• Radio Station WWVB | NIST
• Help with WWVB Radio Controlled Clocks | NIST
• The Official U.S. Time | NIST
• Oregon Scientific RM806 User Manual
• KiwiSDR located in Springfield, Virginia USA

Post update: Evidence indicates "Oregon Scientific" is no longer in business although there are vestigial Web pages (such as the ones linked from this blog post) that suggest otherwise. "La Crosse Technology" sells similar "atomic clocks."

Copyright © 2026 by Walter Sanford. All rights reserved.

First field test: "Orbit" panoramic time lapse timer

I introduced the "Orbit" panoramic time lapse timer in my last blog post. The obvious follow up question is "Does it work?" After the first field test my enthusiastic answer is "It works well. Very well." Same time lapse deliciousness as my other time lapse timers at a slower rate of rotation because the "Orbit" is a two-hour timer rather than a one-hour timer (see "Related Resources," below). I think slower is better in this case.

A panoramic time lapse video was taken using my GoPro HERO4 Black action camera mounted on the "Orbit" rig. The camera was set for "Video" mode / "Time Lapse Video" submode at a resolution of 4K and an interval of two (2) seconds. Approximately 36 minutes of actual recording time resulted in 36 seconds of "raw" time lapse video, given the recording settings I use.

22 January 2026.

A variety of cloud types (mostly cirroform) were streaming across the sky from southwest to northeast. Notice the bird perching on top of the light tower beginning approximately 11 seconds into the video.

Afterward, the following panoramic composite images were taken using the "Camera" app on my Apple iPad mini 6, set for "Pano" mode.

The first image shows a nearly 360-degree view from my vantage point on the roof of the parking garage for the building where I live.

22 January 2026. Wider panoramic view. (16109 x 3754 pixels)

Sometimes I like my "misfires" as much as the wider panoramic composite images such as the one shown above.

22 January 2026. Narrower panoramic view. (8930 x 3778 pixels)

Related Resources 

• Panoramic time lapse rig using "Orbit" two-hour mechanical hose watering timer - a blog post by Walter Sanford
• Post update: Minor modifications of "Orbit" panoramic time lapse rig - another blog post by Walter Sanford
• Sky Lapse 360 © 2025 - and another blog post by Walter Sanford (using a one-hour kitchen timer)
• Sky Lapse 360 © 2025 - 22 November 2025 - yet another blog post by Walter Sanford (using a one-hour generic mechanical timer)

Copyright © 2026 by Walter Sanford. All rights reserved.

Panoramic time lapse rig using "Orbit" two-hour mechanical hose watering timer

Quite a while ago I watched several YouTube videos that demonstrated how to make panoramic time lapse videos using an inexpensive "Orbit" two-hour mechanical hose watering timer. (See "Related Resources," below.)

I mounted the "Orbit" timer using parts made of PVC, as shown in the following annotated photos. The red numbers superimposed on the photos correspond to the item numbers in the section entitled "Parts List," below.

PVC mounted "Orbit" rig (annotated).

The PVC pipe is two (2) feet long and acts like a counterweight for the timer/camera rig. All of the PVC parts fit together snugly and securely without using PVC glue.

PVC mounted "Orbit" rig (annotated).

The next photo shows the dial face of the "Orbit" timer.

"Orbit" timer, showing dial face.

The following photo shows a GoPro flat adhesive mount that I placed temporarily on the dial face of the "Orbit" timer. Notice the adhesive mount covers the dial face. I'm hoping to find a better solution (less permanent) for mounting my GoPro action camera on the "Orbit" timer. (Please comment on this blog post if you have suggestions.)

PVC mounted "Orbit" rig (annotated).

The last photo shows the back of a GoPro flat adhesive mount that uses "3M VHB" peel-and-stick two-sided tape.

GoPro flat adhesive mount (back side). 

Parts List

1. Orbit 1 Output Port Adjustable Mechanical hose end timer
2. Charlotte Pipe 3/4-in PVC Schedule 40 Riser Extender [I strongly recommend you go to a hardware store to be sure this part actually fits the "Orbit" timer.]
3. 3/4-in x 2-ft 480 PSI Schedule 40 PVC Pipe [~3/4" inner diameter, ~1" outer diameter]
4. Charlotte Pipe 3/4-in Schedule 40 PVC Socket Cap - White - NSF Safety Listed  [~1" inner diameter]
5. Essentia water bottle cap [fits screw threads on male end of "Orbit" timer]
6. GoPro Flat Adhesive Mount
7. SmallRig Super Clamp with 1/4" and 3/8" Thread
8. Manfrotto 323 RC2 System Quick Release Adapter with 200PL-14 Plate
9. Alta Pro SBH 100 ball head and 263AT tripod (The same ball head and a similar tripod are available on Amazon.)

Related Resources

• DIY GoPro 2h Panning device - GoPro DIY#16 (4:15) by SoarPix 3D
• How to make a 2 Hour Panning Timer for the GoPro HERO - HD Hero, Hero2, HERO3 or HERO3+ (6:40) by Brynmag
• GoPro Time lapse using a mechanical water timer (5:09) by Tom's Test Kitchen
• How to Operate an Orbit Mechanical Timer (0:51) by Orbit Lawn Garden Life
• Orbit Mechanical Watering Hose Timer 62034 (3:02) by MACH 1 TIPS
• First field test: "Orbit" panoramic time lapse timer - a blog post by Walter Sanford
• Post update: Minor modifications of "Orbit" panoramic time lapse rig - another blog post by Walter Sanford

Copyright © 2026 by Walter Sanford. All rights reserved.

Sky lapses - Altostratus clouds

It's time to return to the routine in which every "Sky Lapse" blog post includes a panoramic composite image followed by a panoramic time lapse video.

The panoramic composite image was taken using the "Camera" app on my Apple iPad mini 6, set for "Pano" mode. The image shows a wide view along the horizon.

17 December 2025. Facing north. (15298 x 3633 pixels)

A little later during the same afternoon a panoramic time lapse video was taken using my GoPro HERO4 Black action camera set for "Video" mode / "Time Lapse Video" submode at a resolution of 4K and an interval of two (2) seconds. The camera was mounted in a fixed position, facing north-northwest in the first clip and facing south-southwest in the second clip.

17 December 2025

Related Resources

• Altostratus (As) | International Cloud Atlas - World Meteorological Organization
• Cloud Classification - National Weather Service [USA]
• Clouds and Cloud Chart (PDF) - Environment Canada

Copyright © 2025-2026 by Walter Sanford. All rights reserved.