Satellite reveals new views of Earth by night

Image of the United States at night
Image of the United States at night Photo: NASA Earth Observatory/NOAA NGDC

Scientists have revealed a new look at Earth by night, using a recently constructed satellite.

A global composite image, constructed using night images from a new NASA and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) satellite, shows the glow of natural and human-built phenomena across the planet in higher definition than before.

An image of the Nile river at night
An image of the Nile river at night Credit: NASA Earth Observatory/NOAA NGDC

"For all the reasons that we need to see Earth during the day, we also need to see Earth at night," said Steve Miller, a researcher at NOAA's Colorado State University Cooperative Institute for Research in the Atmosphere.

"Unlike humans, the Earth never sleeps."

Map of the world assembled from data acquired by the Suomi NPP satellite in April and October 2012
Map of the world assembled from data acquired by the Suomi NPP satellite in April and October 2012 Credit: NASA Earth Observatory/NOAA NGDC