Lights of Human Activity Shine in NASA's Image of Earth at Night
NASA scientists have just released the first new global map of Earth at night since 2012. This nighttime look at our home planet, dubbed the Black Marble, provides researchers with a unique perspective of human activities around the globe.
By studying Earth at night, researchers can investigate how cities expand, monitor light intensity to estimate energy use and economic activity, and aid in disaster response.
What lights illuminate your neighborhood? Download a high-resolution version of the Black Marble here, and find out more about NASA’s new night lights data here.
The data on Earth at night comes from the Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIIRS) instrument on the Suomi National Polar-orbiting Partnership satellite, jointly managed by NASA and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
At night, lights on the Nile River matchup with fertile, green lands visible in this Landsat 8 image.
Composite images like this one filter out aerosols, moonlight and other sources of light, making it possible to detect the light of one individual building.
The ocean is dotted with fishing fleets, including boats that try to attract their catch with bright lights.
Credits
Please give credit for this item to:
NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center
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Producers
- Kathryn Mersmann (USRA)
- Joshua Stevens (SSAI)
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Writers
- Mike Carlowicz (SSAI)
- Kate Ramsayer (Telophase)
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Scientist
- Miguel Román (NASA/GSFC)
Release date
This page was originally published on Wednesday, April 12, 2017.
This page was last updated on Wednesday, May 3, 2023 at 1:47 PM EDT.