Earth at Night

Satellite images of Earth at night have been a curiosity for the public and a tool of fundamental research for at least 25 years. They have provided a broad, beautiful picture, showing how humans have shaped the planet and lit up the darkness.
Bright Aurora, Below Freezing
Image

Bright Aurora, Below Freezing

In early February, fast solar winds brought beautiful northern lights to North America and Europe.

Published Feb 13, 2021

Image of the Day Atmosphere Remote Sensing

Bustling Persian Gulf at Night
Image

Bustling Persian Gulf at Night

City lights and shipping traffic mark one of the world’s major economic crossroads.

Published Jan 24, 2021

Image of the Day Human Presence

Turin Lights the Way Forward
Image

Turin Lights the Way Forward

Through Italy’s Smart Road Decree, the city was chosen as a test site for autonomous driving vehicles.

Published Oct 18, 2020

Image of the Day Human Presence

Super Typhoon Haishen
Image

Super Typhoon Haishen

The storm is poised to hit the Korean Peninsula, making it the third typhoon to encounter the peninsula in just two weeks.

Published Sep 4, 2020

Image of the Day Atmosphere Heat Land Water Severe Storms Human Presence Remote Sensing

Laura Makes Landfall
Image

Laura Makes Landfall

A satellite acquired this nighttime view of the storm two hours after landfall.

Published Aug 27, 2020

Atmosphere Land Water Floods Severe Storms Human Presence Remote Sensing

A Dangerous Storm Nears the Gulf Coast
Image

A Dangerous Storm Nears the Gulf Coast

Hurricane Laura is poised to cause an unusually large and damaging storm surge.

Published Aug 26, 2020

Image of the Day Atmosphere Land Water Floods Severe Storms Human Presence Remote Sensing

All Clear on the Western Front
Image

All Clear on the Western Front

The Suomi NPP satellite got a clear view of Western Europe, its nighttime lights, and its moonlit landscape.

Published Aug 8, 2020

Image of the Day Atmosphere Human Presence Remote Sensing

Xiamen and Quanzhou
Image

Xiamen and Quanzhou

Bright lights of these coastal cities of China are sandwiched between mountains and the sea.

Published Aug 9, 2020

Image of the Day Land Water Human Presence

Hurricane Isaias Moves Over the Caribbean
Image

Hurricane Isaias Moves Over the Caribbean

The category 1 hurricane is headed for a brush with Florida’s Atlantic Coast.

Published Jul 31, 2020

Atmosphere Water Severe Storms Human Presence Remote Sensing

Winter Light for Antarctica
Image

Winter Light for Antarctica

A satellite caught a glimpse of the aurora australis over the Southern Ocean in July 2020.

Published Jul 29, 2020

Atmosphere Unique Imagery Remote Sensing

Hurricane Douglas Heads Toward Hawaii
Image

Hurricane Douglas Heads Toward Hawaii

Heavy rains and winds may result in flash flooding, landslides, and life-threatening surf conditions.

Published Jul 25, 2020

Image of the Day Atmosphere Land Water Human Presence Remote Sensing

Ankara at Night
Image

Ankara at Night

Bright shades of white and yellow light up the geographic and political heart of Turkey.

Published Jun 28, 2020

Image of the Day Land Human Presence

Budapest at Night
Image

Budapest at Night

Divided by the Danube River, the city is actually a unification of three different older communities.

Published May 24, 2020

Image of the Day Human Presence

Nighttime Waves Over the South Atlantic
Image

Nighttime Waves Over the South Atlantic

A layer of marine stratocumulus clouds off the west coast of Africa displayed some particularly complex wave patterns.

Published May 16, 2020

Image of the Day Atmosphere Water Remote Sensing

Tropical Cyclone Harold Blasts Vanuatu
Image

Tropical Cyclone Harold Blasts Vanuatu

The category 5 storm wreaked havoc on the small island nation in the South Pacific.

Published Apr 6, 2020

Image of the Day Atmosphere Land Water Severe Storms Human Presence Remote Sensing

Nighttime Images Capture Change in China
Image

Nighttime Images Capture Change in China

Night lights not only speak to where we live, but how.

Published Mar 26, 2020

Image of the Day Land Life Dust and Haze Human Presence Remote Sensing

Canada Lit by Aurora and Moonlight
Image

Canada Lit by Aurora and Moonlight

The waxing gibbous Moon and the snow and ice on the mountains and lakes give the landscape extra visual definition.

Published Feb 5, 2020

Image of the Day Atmosphere Land Unique Imagery Remote Sensing

Watching Meteors from Space
Image

Watching Meteors from Space

Astronaut Christina Koch snapped a picture of the Quadrantids in January 2020.

Published Jan 20, 2020

Image of the Day Atmosphere

ICONic Views of the Atmosphere
Image

ICONic Views of the Atmosphere

At the boundary between Earth and space, particles and gases and energy do an intricate and colorful dance that varies daily.

Published Jan 7, 2020

Image of the Day Remote Sensing

Cloud Streets Stream Over the Great Lakes
Image

Cloud Streets Stream Over the Great Lakes

A blast of cold air from Canada is fueling lake effect snow in several states.

Published Dec 10, 2019

Atmosphere Land Water Severe Storms Remote Sensing

Severe Winter Storm Hits the West Coast
Image

Severe Winter Storm Hits the West Coast

A winter storm brought flash flooding, heavy snow, and hurricane-force winds to the Pacific Northwest.

Published Nov 27, 2019

Image of the Day Atmosphere Unique Imagery Remote Sensing

Bushfires Still Raging in New South Wales
Image

Bushfires Still Raging in New South Wales

Fire managers warned of “the most dangerous bushfire week this nation has ever seen.”

Published Nov 11, 2019

Image of the Day Heat Land Drought Fires Human Presence Remote Sensing

Night Lights Can Disrupt Wildlife
Image

Night Lights Can Disrupt Wildlife

A new study shows that nocturnal animals are less active when the nights are too bright with electric lighting.

Published Oct 24, 2019

Image of the Day Land Life Human Presence Remote Sensing

Dorian Reaches South Carolina
Image

Dorian Reaches South Carolina

Power outages piled up in Charleston County as the storm raged just offshore.

Published Sep 5, 2019

Image of the Day Atmosphere Land Water Severe Storms Human Presence Remote Sensing

Seasonal Fires are Burning in Angola
Image

Seasonal Fires are Burning in Angola

Fire season peaks every August in some parts of southern Africa.

Published Aug 30, 2019

Image of the Day Land Human Presence Remote Sensing

Fire Races Across Gran Canaria
Image

Fire Races Across Gran Canaria

The fire is tearing through pine forests in mountainous terrain on the second most populous of the Canary Islands.

Published Aug 20, 2019

Image of the Day Atmosphere Heat Land Human Presence Remote Sensing

Nighttime Swirls
Image

Nighttime Swirls

A common cloud pattern, known as von Kármán vortices, makes an appearance at night.

Published Aug 19, 2019

Image of the Day Atmosphere Land Remote Sensing

Lights Out after Cyclone Fani
Image

Lights Out after Cyclone Fani

The powerful storm, one of the worst to hit India since 1999, knocked out electricity across the state of Odisha.

Published May 8, 2019

Image of the Day Severe Storms Human Presence Remote Sensing

Mozambique Braces for Tropical Cyclone Kenneth
Image

Mozambique Braces for Tropical Cyclone Kenneth

Just five weeks after enduring the worst natural disaster in its recorded history, the African country is facing another serious storm threat.

Published Apr 24, 2019

Image of the Day Atmosphere Land Severe Storms Human Presence Remote Sensing

Dazzling Spring Aurora over Hudson Bay
Image

Dazzling Spring Aurora over Hudson Bay

A stunning aurora appeared over Hudson Bay in March, historically the most geomagnetically active month.

Published Mar 29, 2019

Atmosphere Unique Imagery