A system for automatically registering a sensed image with a reference image. A sensor image of a first scene is obtained while the sensor is mounted on a platform, and at least one processing subsystem may be provided. The processing subsystem may be adapted to perform a plurality of operations including obtaining a reference image of a second scene, with the reference image encompassing the sensor image; to identify the portion of the reference image depicted in the sensor image; to define an area of the reference image based on the reference image portion; to conform the sensor image and an area of the reference image to a common perspective by transforming the perspective of at least one of the sensor image and the reference image area; and to match the images of common perspective.