Light Pollution on Google Maps

One of the biggest problems for urban astronomers is light pollution. The Blue Marble Nightlights map is a Google Map that shows this problem worldwide.

Blue Marble Nightlights is a composite map of satellite images taken in 2003. Even if you aren't concerned about light pollution the map provides an interesting insight into urban centres in the first world (many non-first world cities are still relatively dark at night).

Europe and the Eastern USA are lit up like a Christmas tree. In Australia you can just make out most of the coast, whilst the interior of the country remains largely unlit.

Also See

• Earth Lights - another map of the night sky
• Globe at Night - a survey of light pollution