Pictures: New HD View of Earth at Night

Night on Earth

Image courtesy NASA Earth Observatory/NOAA NGDC

This composite image of Earth at night was assembled from data acquired by the NASA-NOAA Suomi National Polar-orbiting Partnership (NPP) satellite in April and October 2012.

Many satellites are equipped to capture images while the Earth is illuminated by the sun, but a new sensor aboard the Suomi NPP satellite, launched last year, allows scientists to observe Earth's atmosphere and surface during nighttime hours, according to NASA.

Published December 5, 2012

Along the Nile

Image courtesy NASA Earth Observatory/NOAA NGDC

A brightly illuminated Nile River Valley tells the continued story of human civilization in the region. The nighttime image was captured by the Suomi NPP satellite's new sensor, what NASA calls the "day-night band" of the Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIIRS), which is able to detect light in a range of wavelengths.

According to NASA, the new sensor is sensitive enough to detect "the light from a single ship in the sea."

Published December 5, 2012

City Lights

Image courtesy NASA Earth Observatory/NOAA NGDC

Urban areas along China’s coast outshine the country’s interior in this detailed look cropped from NASA’s composite image of Earth at night.

Orbiting 512 miles (824 kilometers) above the Earth, the Suomi NPP satellite passes any given point on Earth’s surface twice each day, relaying its data to scientists once per orbit, according to NASA.

“I’m always amazed at what city light images show us about human activity,” said Chris Elvidge, who leads NOAA’s Earth Observation Group, in a statement on NASA’s Earth Observatory website. He says the data from the imagery may help scientists seeking to model fossil fuel emissions or monitor the activity of commercial fishing fleets.

Published December 5, 2012

The Black Marble

Image courtesy NASA

In contrast to the famous "Blue Marble" image—taken by the crew of Apollo 17 in 1972—the newest full image of Earth brings evidence of humanity to light.

In addition to observing city lights, NASA reports that the day-night band of the VIIRS can use filtering techniques to pick up gas flares, auroras, wildfires, and reflected moonlight.

Published December 5, 2012

Next: Best Night Sky Photos

Photograph courtesy Jia Hao, TWAN

Published December 5, 2012