Cities Gallery

World at night

World at night. Satellite map showing the world at night. Lights show areas of human population, with brightly lit areas marking dense urban populations (large cities). The dark areas include remote and undeveloped areas, and also uninhabited areas such as deserts, forests and oceans. The brightest and most urbanised areas are in North America (upper left), Europe (upper centre), and Japan and South Korea (upper right). Most of South America (lower left), Africa (centre) and Australia (lower right) are dark, as are the polar regions and large areas of Asia. Other well-lit areas include large cities in China, India, South-East Asia, the Middle East and Russia. For this map in the day, see E050/585

© M-sat Ltd/Science Photo Library

India at night, satellite image

India at night, satellite view. This image is a composite showing the change in illumination over India from 1992-2003. Satellite data from 2003 is coloured red, 1998 is coloured green and 1992 is blue. The three data sets are composited to form the image. Nighttime lights on the map that are white are lights that were present throughout the entire period. Areas that are marked by red have only appeared in 2003. Areas coloured green and blue were only present in 1998 and 1992 respectively but are no longer visible. This image was created by the Defense Meteorological Satellite Program (DMSP), National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration, USA.
*** THIS PICTURE MAY NOT BE USED TO STATE OR IMPLY NOAA ENDORSEMENT OF ANY COMPANY OR PRODUCT ***

© NOAA/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY

Europe at night, satellite image

Europe at night. Satellite image of city lights at night, centred on Europe. North is at top, with the uninhabited dark of the Arctic at upper left. Bright areas mark dense urban populations, and the European coastline is clearly seen. Dense groups of cities are seen in England, Germany, the Netherlands and Belgium, and northern Italy. Paris and Madrid are also easily identified. Moscow is at centre right. Cairo and the Nile are at lower right, along with Israel. Oil rig lights are seen in the North Sea. Other lights include Iceland (upper left) and western Siberia (upper right). Desert areas, oceans, and inland seas are dark. For this area in the day, see E070/560

© M-sat Ltd/Science Photo Library