The VNIR subsystem consists of two independent telescope assemblies to minimize image distortion in the backward and nadir looking telescopes (Figure 3). The detectors for each of the bands consist of 5000 element silicon charge-coupled detectors (CCD's). Only 4000 of these detectors are used at any one time. A time lag occurs between the acquisition of the backward image and the nadir image. During this time earth rotation displaces the image center. The VNIR subsystem automatically extracts the correct 4000 pixels based on orbit position information supplied by the EOS platform.