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.
Dorian Reaches South Carolina
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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
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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
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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
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Nighttime Swirls

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

Published Aug 19, 2019

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Lights Out after Cyclone Fani
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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
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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

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Dazzling Spring Aurora over Hudson Bay
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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

Darkness in the Wake of Idai
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Darkness in the Wake of Idai

The powerful storm knocked out power across Mozambique's second-largest port city.

Published Mar 26, 2019

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

A Break in the Clouds for Europe
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A Break in the Clouds for Europe

Europe stands out in satellite imagery as being one of the cloudiest continents—but not this week.

Published Mar 2, 2019

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Night Lights Show Slow Recovery from Maria
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Night Lights Show Slow Recovery from Maria

The hurricane took a disproportionate toll on power supplies in remote areas of Puerto Rico.

Published Dec 12, 2018

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Bright Auroras Light Up the Sky and the Land
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Bright Auroras Light Up the Sky and the Land

Coronal holes sparked brilliant auroras over Alaska and Canada during this solar minimum.

Published Nov 21, 2018

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Galloway Forest Park
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Galloway Forest Park

Meteor showers and other celestial phenomenon are easily visible from this dark-sky park in Southern Scotland.

Published Nov 17, 2018

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A Fire in the Middle of the Atlantic Ocean?
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A Fire in the Middle of the Atlantic Ocean?

High-energy particles from the South Atlantic Magnetic Anomaly occasionally trick satellite sensors.

Published Oct 29, 2018

Image of the Day Heat Land Remote Sensing

It’s Valley Fog Season
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It’s Valley Fog Season

As cool air pours into valleys on chilly autumn nights, valley fog and dicey driving conditions can emerge.

Published Oct 26, 2018

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Earth Awash in Lights of the Night
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Earth Awash in Lights of the Night

City lights sprawl across Earth’s surface below a constant glow in the upper atmosphere.

Published Oct 23, 2018

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Hurricane Willa
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Hurricane Willa

A powerful, dangerous hurricane is poised to hit Mexico.

Published Oct 22, 2018

Atmosphere Water Severe Storms Human Presence

Lights Out in Michael’s Wake
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Lights Out in Michael’s Wake

The powerful storm knocked out power across the southeast U.S., as seen by a NOAA-NASA satellite.

Published Oct 16, 2018

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Hurricane Michael Reaches North Carolina
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Hurricane Michael Reaches North Carolina

Since making landfall, the storm has caused severe property damage and deaths in the southeastern United States, with more damage expected.

Published Oct 11, 2018

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An Outflow Boundary—Not a Jellyfish—Over Africa
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An Outflow Boundary—Not a Jellyfish—Over Africa

The peculiar curved shape of this cloud over Mali is the product of a phenomenon associated with thunderstorms.

Published Oct 6, 2018

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Super Typhoon Trami
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Super Typhoon Trami

The storm barreled across the Western Pacific basin, visible east of Taiwan in this nighttime image.

Published Sep 25, 2018

Atmosphere Severe Storms

August Auroras Light Up North American Skies
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August Auroras Light Up North American Skies

An unexpected aurora colored the skies of Canada and northern U.S. states.

Published Aug 30, 2018

Image of the Day Atmosphere Land Remote Sensing

Lights of Java
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Lights of Java

The island of Java is the geographic and economic center of Indonesia.

Published Aug 26, 2018

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The Perry Fire by Day and Night
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The Perry Fire by Day and Night

The fire was not the largest or most destructive in July 2018, but the position of its smoke allowed for a clear look at the progression of the burn.

Published Jul 30, 2018

Land Fires Human Presence Remote Sensing

County Fire Lights Up the Night
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County Fire Lights Up the Night

As smoke streamed toward San Francisco, more than 1,000 fire personnel were at the scene fighting the blaze.

Published Jul 4, 2018

Image of the Day Atmosphere Land Fires Human Presence Remote Sensing

The Infrared Glow of Kilauea’s Lava Flows
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The Infrared Glow of Kilauea’s Lava Flows

This false-color image shows the infrared signal emitted by fresh lava flowing toward the sea.

Published May 26, 2018

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Fishing in Green, Living in Yellow
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Fishing in Green, Living in Yellow

Thailand and Cambodia have distinctly different hues at night compared to nearby seas.

Published May 14, 2018

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Sun Sends an Early Earth Day Greeting
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Sun Sends an Early Earth Day Greeting

The Suomi NPP satellite captured a glimpse of the northern lights over North America.

Published Apr 24, 2018

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Urban Patterns in Snow and Light
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Urban Patterns in Snow and Light

In central China, the human footprint brightens the night and dulls the snowscape.

Published Jan 16, 2018

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New Year’s Night
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New Year’s Night

City lights shone brightly in the United States as revelers welcomed the new year.

Published Jan 2, 2018

Atmosphere Land Unique Imagery Human Presence

Observing Changes in Nighttime Lights
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Observing Changes in Nighttime Lights

Tracking the brightness and location of manmade lights offers researchers an innovative way to track human activity on a global scale.

Published Dec 27, 2017

Image of the Day Land Life Human Presence Remote Sensing