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Nighttime in the Northeast Seen from Space

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The northeast U.S. at night, as seen from space.
The northeast U.S. at night, as seen from space. (Image credit: NASA/NOAA)

This stunning view of the nighttime lights of the northeast U.S. was captured by the Suomi NPP satellite on May 20, 2012.

The picture was taken using the Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIIRS), which is more sensitive than other imaging systems to light emitted from the surface, such as reflected moonlight or surface generated photons like those beamed skyward by humans and raging wildfires.

Differing amounts of moonlight will affect the VIIRS sensor sensitivity, so the features that can be seen in an image change from night to night. You can't see clouds in this image because the moon was in a "new" phase, so moonlight was available to reflect off of clouds.

The day-night capability of VIIRS is primarily intended to capture detailed data about cloud, snow and ice formations during nighttime hours. Before 1973, pictures of the country's nighttime lights were classified by the military, but since then the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's National Geophysical Data Center has been processing the images to examine population and urbanization changes around the planet, along with helping to pinpoint electrical power blackouts in the United States.

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Live Science Staff
Live Science Staff
For the science geek in everyone, Live Science offers a fascinating window into the natural and technological world, delivering comprehensive and compelling news and analysis on everything from dinosaur discoveries, archaeological finds and amazing animals to health, innovation and wearable technology. We aim to empower and inspire our readers with the tools needed to understand the world and appreciate its everyday awe.