A method and apparatus for a data analysis system for analyzing data object collections that include geo-temporal data is provided. One or more temporal granularities are specified for the purpose of generating a geo-temporal data index. The time granularities correspond to temporal ranges expected to correspond to temporal ranges specified in user queries against the data. One or more temporal index bucket groups are generated based on to the specified time granularities. Geo-temporal input data is indexed based on the generated temporal index bucket groups. The system allows a data analyst to specify geo-temporal queries that include both geospatial component and a temporal component. The system transforms geo-temporal queries into one or more second queries that retrieve data items based on the temporal index bucket groups.