Check this out. Pretty damned awesome!!

http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/image/0011/earthlights_dmsp_big.jpg

Deano

-- Deano (deano@luvthebeach.com), February 23, 2001

Answers

Love that shot, Deano. I'm always amazed at how "dark" my part of the world is, with the exception of one giant, bright DOT right where LV is located.

I also never realized how heavily populated even the mid-West is; you just don't get that impression (especially when driving through) until you see something like this.

-- (PatriciaS@lasvegas.com), February 23, 2001.

A lil' bump for your pleasure.........huh?!

Deano

-- Deano (deano@luvthebeach.com), February 23, 2001.

I thought it was spectacular Pat. You can really see where 'all the action' is at night.

California looks pretty bright to be all outa power an' everything....

ya beat me to the bump...;-)

Deano

-- Deano (deano@luvthebeach.com), February 23, 2001.

Hey great find Deano!

-- (@ .), February 23, 2001.

Looky Here

-- Astounded (howe9@shentel.net), February 23, 2001.

Texas is noticeably dark?

-- FutureShock (gray@matter.think), February 23, 2001.

This is a graphic presentation of the population disbursement in the U.S. I’ve always heard that 74% of Americans live east of the Mississippi River. One thing about this picture: Anyone else observe the ‘grid-like’ pattern of light dots that begin from West Texas, moving eastward? Curious.

-- Barry (bchbear863@cs.com), February 23, 2001.

Great photo! I now understand why Florida has picked up some representatives. Though the north east looks just as crowded as it always has.

-- Maria (anon@ymous.com), February 23, 2001.

Look how lit-up Puerto Rico is compared to Cuba. And the area just southwest of Hudson bay is as quiet as the Amazon and mid Alaska.. Nicaraugua is very dark, and what is that big spot up on the North coast of Alasks, pt. Barrow? Why is that so bright? Great map.

-- Bemused (and_amazed@you.people), February 23, 2001.

... and the huge difference between N and S Korea...

-- Bemused (and_amazed@you.people), February 23, 2001.

I also wondered about the Pt Barrow lights. They must be UFOs or an Eskimo convention.

-- Lars (larsguy@yahoo.com), February 24, 2001.

Very Cool!

I'm pretty sure I can figure out which light is Edmonton, much brighter spot than those around it. Amazing how dark Africa is!

-- Tricia the Canuck (jayles@telusplanet.net), February 25, 2001.

This picture is my new wallpaper. Very striking. I also noticed what Bemused did, the amazing difference between Puerto Rico and Cuba, and the clear boundary between N and S Korea. If ever a difference in political philosophies was illustrated in light, this is surely it. You can plot light against population density and say "here be free markets", and be damn accurate.

-- Flint (flintc@mindspring.com), February 25, 2001.

-- Cherri (jessam5@home.com), February 25, 2001.

-- Cherri (jessam5@home.com), February 26, 2001.