Composite Of Earth At Night

crmartin writes "Today's Astronomy Picture of the Day is an incredible composite image of Earth from space at night. Actually a composite from many pictures from the Defense Meteorological Satellites Program (DMSP), it's like a skeletal view of the Earth in tiny lights. If you really like it, there are hi-res images up to a 40 megabyte TIFF."

Comments

hum

[borgdows]

interestingly, we clearly see northkorea (black) surrounded by light (southkorea and china)

Re:hum

[zerblat]

Western China could be mistaken for ocean.

That's because noone lives there. It's interesting to compare the night-sky map with a map showing population density.

Re:hum

[darth_zeth]

You make it sound like North Korea was just dealt a bum hand, and its really not the fault of anyone in North Korea that they are in the shit heap they are in.

which I find amusing, seeing as RIGHT across the DMZ is the flourishing country of South Korea.

Whether or not you meant to imply this, I think its worth emphasizing that it is the actions of the North Korea government that has damned the nation. Perhaps the influence of China and the Soviets wasn't quite NK's fault, the past dozen year or so resulted in the marked improvement of many post-Soviet satellite states. The North Koreans government ill management of agricultural resources, ill management of foreign relations, and their massive expenditure of money on their idle million man army, consuming one third of their GDP in supporting their army and developing weapons.

You just seeing this?

[Backdraft32]

I have had this as my desktop for over a year now... I suppose its nice to show it to more people, but its hardly newsworthy...

What a waste!

[keoghp]

All that light headed skywards when it was intended for the ground. Apart from the waste of valuable resources good old Mr Alien can see us!

Re:What a waste!

[optimus2861]

When I visited the UK a couple of years ago, what struck me was the unnatural glow that's ever-present around the horizon at night from the incredible amount of light being poured into the night sky; it looks as if it's perpetually an hour after sunset. Very few stars ever come out. Most of that light was probably from London, even though I was over an hour's drive north of the city. Being raised in rural Canada, I could always just go out into the front yard, look up, and get an awesome view of the night sky, including the Milky Way on a clear, moonless night. I feel some pity for kids being raised in those environments where they'll never be able to see it.

2002?

[Xetrov]

Anyone else notice the 2002 date on the image?

Re:Africa

[frovingslosh]

gee, that's kind of negative. I looked at it as there are still some places without light polution.

Amatuer Astronomers (and Pros) Cringe

[Average_Joe_Sixpack]

Light pollution is overlooked by most of the populace, but to us amatuer astronomers it is a royal pain in the ass. I now have to travel 3 hours into the rural sticks to get a glimpse of the Milky Way (I'd have to get on a plane and travel to Africa to enjoy it in its full glory). I'd be willing to bet that half the US population has never even seen the galactic clouds of the Milky Way ... which is a shame because it borders on a religous experience.

Not to sound like Smokey the Bear but please Please do your part in help preventing light pollution and save a little extra in your monthly energy costs in the process. Use motion sensors for your outside security lights and timers for walkway lighting. Blinds and curtains to prevent inside lighting from leaking out into the neighborhood.

You'd be suprised how many backyard astronomers there are!!

More info on the problem:
International Dark Sky Association