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The Western Hemisphere from 512 miles above the Earth at night in a composite assembled from data acquired by the Suomi NPP satellite in April and October.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: NASA's Earth Observatory / NOAA

This NASA image from a composite assembled from data acquired by the Suomi NPP satellite in April and October 2012 shows the Earth's city lights at night.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: NASA's Earth Observatory / NOAA

The continental United States is seen at night in a composite assembled from data acquired by the Suomi NPP satellite in April and October.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: NASA's Earth Observatory / NOAA

A satellite view of Europe, Africa, and the Middle East at night.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: NASA's Earth Observatory / NOAA

This NASA image obtained Dec. 6 shows city lights in parts of Europe and North Africa at night in a composite assembled from data acquired by the Suomi National Polar-orbiting Partnership satellite.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: NASA Earth Observatory / NOAA

This NASA image from a composite assembled from data acquired by the Suomi NPP satellite in April and October 2012 shows the city lights of Earth at night.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: NASA's Earth Observatory / NOAA

Northwest Europe on the night of March 27, 2012.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: NASA's Earth Observatory / NOAA

A satellite view of Hurricane Sandy acquired by the Suomi NPP satellite on October 28, 2012.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: NASA's Earth Observatory / NOAA

This image shows the Eastern Seaboard of the U.S. from data acquired by the satellite at 3:30 a.m. Oct. 30, after Superstorm Sandy made landfall.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: NASA's Earth Observatory / NOAA

The Mediterranean Sea, including the Nile River valley and delta. Data used in the composite were captured by the Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite on the Suomi NPP satellite.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: NASA's Earth Observatory / NOAA

The Korean Peninsula and parts of China and Japan.

PHOTOGRAPH BY: NASA's Earth Observatory / NOAA

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Satellite images of Earth, city lights at night

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Satellite images of Earth, city lights at night

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Satellite images of Earth, city lights at night

NASA has released images of Earth at night from the Suomi National Polar-Orbiting Partnership satellite that is orbiting 512 miles above the Earth’s surface. The agency stitched some of these images together to create a composite image of the entire planet. They call it the Black Marble.

Read the full story “NASA releases breathtaking images of the Earth at night” by Deborah Netburn

Related:

Space shuttle Endeavour’s trip through L.A. streets

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3 Comments

  1. December 29, 2012, 8:49 pm

    The world is beautiful, this picture is Awesommmmme.

    By: tplgomez@gmail.com
  2. February 14, 2013, 4:31 am

    Wonderful content! After reading about satellite image I'm very excited to see it. Hopes we will see a satellite image soon. Thanks for informing me. Carry on.

  3. April 16, 2013, 1:16 pm

    Not dazzling, not breathtaking, not beautiful. Appalling. Beyond the obvious incredible waste of energy lighting up a night sky that needs no help from humans, this spewing of light is doing terrible harm to countless innocent life forms on the planet, perhaps even our own. These pictures should gag you, not impress you.

    By: Jan

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