NASA night Earth photos: VIIRS NASA-NOAA satellite sensor captures images of Earth in the dark
According to NASA, the new sensor, the day-night band of the Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIIRS), is sensitive enough to detect the nocturnal glow produced by Earth's atmosphere and the light from a single ship in the sea.
Photographer: NASA
Posted: 12/06/2012
Ever wonder what Earth looks like while you're sleeping? NASA is here to help.
New, incredible images from a recently launched NASA-NOAA satellite shows just that.
The images, which were released Wednesday, highlight the bright lights of popular cities.
"Unlike humans, the Earth never sleeps," NASA said in a release.
According to NASA, the new sensor, the day-night band of the Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIIRS), is sensitive enough to detect the nocturnal glow produced by Earth's atmosphere and the light from a single ship in the sea.
Satellites in the U.S. Defense Meteorological Satellite Program have been making observations with low-light sensors for 40 years. But the VIIRS day-night band can better detect and resolve Earth's night lights, NASA says.
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Mobile link: http://1.usa.gov/TJTck
Copyright 2012 Scripps Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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