• Zoom
• Map layers
• Measuring tool
• Download
• Show Nearby Tracks 
  • In-depth information here
• Visualization Settings 

Zoom

To zoom in or out on the map, users can use the and buttons in the top left of the screen. You can also use the scroll function on your computer mouse/track pad to zoom in and out. 

Map Layers

The icon has several map layers that can be enabled:

• Bathymetry - Depth of the ocean. 
• 12 NM - 12 nautical mile from the coast demarcating the territorial sea. 
• EEZs - Exclusive Economic Zone. 200 nautical miles from the coast.
• My Areas - User created Areas of Interest
• Satellite Frames - The footprint of the satellite image used for vessel detections. Satellite frames are available for all satellite data except night lights.

For details on the data sources, click the information icon () next to each layer or see the Skylight Data Sources page. 

Measuring tool

The measuring tool (ruler icon ) allows you to measure distances as well as the size of an area.

1. Click on the ruler icon () in the left-hand toolbar to open the measuring tool. 
2. Select a unit of measurement of your choice  (Nautical Miles, Kilometers, Miles, Meters)
3. Click on the map to create a starting point and move the cursor to measure.
   1. As the cursor moves, a live distance and bearing from the last point will display following your cursor.
4. Click again on the map to add a vertex/point to a polygon or polyline.
   1. As points are added, the sum of all distances will display in a box on the top left.
5. Click a second time on the last point of the line to get the total distance or click the first point again to close the polygon and get the total area
6. To start a new line/polygon, click Reset.
7. To close the tool, simply click on “X” in the top right box.

Download

The download icon   on the left side of the map will download all the event data visible on the map. Data is available in CSV or KML format. 

You can also choose the Networked KML option to start streaming events in Google Earth. See the “Events in Google Earth” article for more information.

Visualization Settings

These settings allow you to update how event icons, vessel icons and track icons appear on the map. 

Events - Applies when the Events layer is enabled. Options include viewing by Flag and a heatmap. 

Vessels - Applies when the Vessels Layer is enabled. More information here.

Track Options - Applies to all Track displays. Options include: 

• MMSI — Distinguishes tracks by vessel identity when viewing multiple tracks on the map at once.
• Position Age — Colors track segments by how old each position is, creating a visual timeline from oldest to most recent. Useful for understanding the sequence and recency of movements.
• Speed Over Ground — Colors track segments by vessel speed at each point. Reveals where a vessel slowed down, stopped, or accelerated — key for identifying potential fishing activity, loitering, or port calls.
• Time of Day — Colors segments based on when they occurred during the day. Helps reveal whether a behavior happened at night or during daylight.

Tip: Specific Points on the Map

Sometimes it’s helpful to be able to zoom into a precise area of the Skylight map based on coordinates. Using the zoom buttons can get you close, but manipulating the Skylight URL is a more precise option.

Using the following format, add your zoom level and coordinates, separated by backslashes:

https://sc-production.skylight.earth/#<zoom level>/lat/long

For example in the screenshot the URL is: https://sc-production.skylight.earth/#4.77/-3.13/156.27

• Zoom level = 4.77
• Lat = -3.13
• Long = 156.27

Editing these values will take you a different place on the map. 

Zoom levels are #1.5 (the most zoomed out; this is the default Skylight view) to #22 (most zoomed in).

You can also see where your cursor is on the map using the coordinates in the bottom right hand portion of the screen.