Our World, Earth at Night

Our World At Night

World Map

It took me quite a while to figure out that our world was never always night time. So they must have done some photo stitching or something. Nonetheless, this is a great image of our world, in fact it is quite famous, by NASA. Click image to enlarge.

Here are some observations. If unsure, you can refer to the world map.
You can see:

• the bright spots are generally near shorelines.
• the difference between North and South Korea (the latter looks like an Island)
• Singapore is a bright white dot at the tip of Malaysia
• disparity in wealth
• disparity in energy consumption
• roughly the road network from western Europe through Russia to China (people congregate at main transportatioin routes)
• the entire of Japan very well lit
• why Canada sells USA power
• Africa being very dark although it has 900+ million people (Europe has 300+ million, USA has 700+ million)
• Australia disappointingly dark
  
• India suprisingly bright
• why we cannot see stars at night (it has to be seen from outside in)
• where the most light polluted areas are
  
• insides of Brazil very dark (keep it that way!)
• the whole Earth at night at the same time
• how people like to stay near river nile
• how Aliens find Earth
• how beautiful light pollution is, but you haven't seen the night sky yet, without the light pollution
• why ice are melting at the two poles and everywhere
• your house
• who to blame for wasting energy and pollution
• something being scribbled at the bottom
  
• how people and countries are connected somehow
• one of the most popular destop image and wall poster
  
• where the waters are in Europe and Middle-East
• where the economic activities are
• that this is definitely not Earth Day
• where to retire if you are more on the dark side
• only Indonesia's main island (where are the remaining 7000+?)
• why greenland is the world's greenest country
  

Do you see something I don't? Please tell me! Add to the list.