"earth at night -- photo
-- image -- NASA -- earth from space -- Defense
Meteorological Satellite -- world, globe -- earth image -- astronomy -- space science"
Earth at Night....It is an absolutely
awesome panoramic picture of the world at night.
Check out
some observations below. Order a piece of art for your
office or home.
Want a stunning museum-quality "Earth At
Night" image? See bottom of page...
This is a low resolution example,
which really doesn't do the image justice. This image is being used so that
this web page will load faster. The real image is an extremely
high resolution image.
View
larger image at bottom of this page.
www.AstoundingImage.com
We were fortunate to get an extremely high
resolution image from NASA, not available
through normal sources. This image can be
printed to very large dimensions, without image
quality loss. The best Earth at Night photo
anywhere!
MUSEUM-QUALITY
"EARTH-AT-NIGHT"
Note Cards & Wall Art
How would this look on the wall of your
office, company's foyer
or the wall of a large room in your home?
Or, how about
note cards?
For a number of years we have used this image in
our Cultural Diversity
presentations. Invariably someone would come
up to me (Joel Freeman) during a break, asking
where he or she could obtain a large copy of
this image. I never knew where to point
people...until now.
Finally we
have good news. We have special access to the
extremely high resolution photograph from the
actual gentlemen in NASA who created this composite image.
An important distinction!
This is
what the Earth looks like at night. Can you find
your favorite or city? Surprisingly, city
lights make this task quite possible.
Human-made light highlights particularly
developed or populated areas of the Earth's
surface, including the seaboards of Europe, the
eastern United States, and Japan. Many large
cities are located near rivers or oceans so that
they can exchange goods cheaply by boat.
Particularly dark areas include the central
parts of South America, Africa, Asia and
Australia. The above image is actually a
composite of hundreds of pictures made by the
orbiting DMSP satellite.
This image of Earth’s city lights was created with data from the
Defense Meteorological Satellite Program (DMSP)
Operational Linescan System (OLS). Originally
designed to view clouds by moonlight, the OLS is
also used to map the locations of permanent
lights on the Earth’s surface.
The brightest areas of the Earth are the most urbanized, but
not necessarily the most populated. (Compare
western Europe with China and India.) Cities
tend to grow along coastlines and transportation
networks. Even without the underlying map, the
outlines of many continents would still be
visible. The United States interstate highway
system appears as a lattice connecting the
brighter dots of city centers. In Russia, the
Trans-Siberian railroad is a thin line
stretching from Moscow through the center of
Asia to Vladivostok. The Nile River, from the
Aswan Dam to the Mediterranean Sea, is another
bright thread through an otherwise dark region.
Many Satisfied
Customers
"I received
the image a month ago and I am
very pleased with it. You are
right, the picture on your
website does not do it justice.
It is spectacular -- a great
conversation piece. I am glad
that I got the larger size. It's
worth every penny spent. The
detail is truly amazing! Thanks
for everything. I will tell
others about this stunning work
of art. I also really
like the all-occasion cards!" -- Gerald,
London, UK
"I just wanted to say how awesome the
Earth at Night image is and to thank you
for such an easy order process!" --
Courtney, Austin, TX
"It looks great! I bought it for my
husband and he really likes it. My 8
year old son is also interested in it as
well. I was surprised by the color --
quite different from viewing it online.
Also, I am happy with the size I chose.
I think one size bigger would have been
over- whelming!" -- Suzanne, PA
"Purchasing
the image was extremely straightforward
and I felt you kept me informed
throughout the whole process of any
information that concerned me. Also, you
answered my (numerous!) questions and
were able to advise me. Considering the
print is quite large and unique (and
thus I needed a bit more assurance than
a cheaper / smaller purchase), I felt
the service was brilliant. I would
recommend you!! My husband loves the
image! and I am convinced it will be
quite a centre point / talking point for
many guests, with many hours studying
it!" -- Ruth,
London, UK
Even more than 100 years after the invention of the electric light,
some regions remain thinly populated and
unlit. Antarctica is entirely dark. The
interior jungles of Africa and South America are
mostly dark, but lights are beginning to appear
there. Deserts in Africa, Arabia, Australia,
Mongolia, and the United States are poorly lit
as well (except along the coast), along with the
boreal forests of Canada and Russia, and the
great mountains of the Himalaya.
This particular image is not available through
normal sources. (The image above is a
low-resolution image, which really doesn't do it
justice.) The specific image to be mounted for
you is unequaled in quality and resolution.
It really "pops!" -- like no other
similar-type image. This image can be printed to
very large dimensions, without image quality
loss.
It
will look great on your wall -- the larger, the
better...It is sure to spark many hours of
wonderful conversation! The finest "Earth at
Night" art images anywhere!
"Zero
Pixilization"! This image is printed
digitally on
the highest quality museum, photo grade and
acid-free paper (10 mil) with pigmented,
UV-resistant
archival ink, rated at over 100 years
fade resistance. 100% guaranteed
satisfaction.
We will deliver what has been promised
with the "wall-art" size you request
-- or all-occasion note cards
(holiday, thank you, etc...)
-->>>>>>>>>
The
production company we are working with will
fabricate and ship a high quality "Wall-Art" image to almost any
size. To make it easy for everyone, we have
selected five
sizes, from which you can choose (see below).
The larger the image, the more spectacular it
is.
By
the way, because we have access to the original
high resolution image, we can make a "stupendously huge" image
of this if you have a specialty project in mind.
Please let us know what you're thinking and
we'll respond accordingly.
The
image you select will be fabricated by a
production company that has done work for the
Smithsonian Institution and other similar
organizations.
MUSEUM-QUALITY NOTE
CARDS
Magnificent "Earth At Night" All-Occasion
Note Cards w/ Envelopes (Order Singles or in packs of ten) Make a
BIG Impression
Impressively Large Note Card Size: 11" x 4.75"
~
UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY ~
Private Labeled Note Cards
Contact us for Premier Note Card quantities: 500,
1000, 2500 or more -- with Your Company information
on the cards and envelopes.
__________________________
Some organizations use these cards for:
Holidays, Thank You, Congratulations, etc.
Smaller image size
options are mentioned below. Please click on the
appropriate "email hyperlink" and send an email
(including your telephone number) for the
specific size and mounting you want. S&H
in the USA is
INCLUDED in the pricing!
Please
do not contact us if you want an inexpensive
poster-like image. Mass production is not what we do.
Your image will be one-at-a-time museum quality
(with price to match), made individually for each
order. Interested in learning more? Click below on
the exact size and mounting option you want us to
quote...
The Perfect Gift
-- A Spectacular and Unique Piece of Art! Birthday, Anniversary, Co-Worker, Boss,
Retirement, Residential, Corporate, Diversity Presentation,
Sales Show / Booth Stopper!
We have developed these sizes of the
"Earth at Night" image, in 2 options: 1. Fine Art Image 2. Prints (on thinner paper, below) Click on the "email" for specific size
you want more information on the following:
Sizes of prints below include
the border for the print (1"-2")
SIZE
*
Fine Art Image
(rolled, not laminated) (see below)
1.
12" x 24" (1' x 2')
email for pricing (please include your telephone #)
2. 18" x 34" (1'6" x 2'10")
email
for pricing
(please include your telephone #)
3.
22" x 44" (1'10" x 3'8")
email for pricing
(please include your telephone #)
4. 34" x 68" (2'10" x 5'8")
email for pricing
(please include your telephone #)
5. 44" x 88"
(3'8"' x 7'4") HUGE!
Almost the size of regulation wallboard
email for pricing
(please include your telephone #)
* Fine Art Image: Museum grade archival Epson Photo
Luster Paper (thicker quality paper) printed with Epson Ultrachome
Pigmented Archival inks, rated at over 100 years fade
resistance. Print colors will remain bright and clear. IMPORTANT: Because
these images are NOT laminated, do not unroll
them. The first time the image is unrolled is to be
by the framer...with extreme care, using white
gloves. Once it is under the Plexiglas or glass, it
is fine.
The Fine Art Paper option delivers an
even higher, museum-quality, standard of
excellence. We use Epson Ultra Smooth Fine
Art Paper, the same paper as the Boston Museum
of Fine Arts. These Fine Art Papers have
additional desirable conservation
characteristics:
50% thicker: 15 mil
Very heavy feel: 250g/m2
OBA-free
Lignin-free
100% Cotton
Acid-free
Fine
art papers that have no OBA's, that are
acid-free, lignin-free, 100% cotton, and
that are buffered (usually with a calcium
carbonate reserve of about 1.5% - 2.0%) have
an estimated paper life expectancy of 500
years or more (based on the American
National Standards Institute and the
American Society for Testing Materials).
The two most important factors that affect
the quality of paper are the presence of
impurities and an acidic pH. Finished papers may
contain natural impurities, such as lignins that
have not been removed during processing,
unnatural impurities, such as residual
chemicals, like sulfites, not washed out during
final processing.
WHY LIGNIN-FREE? Lignins,
which are the combined glues that hold plant
cells together, are undesirable in a finished
paper product. They age poorly, turn brown,
become acidic over time, and resist the natural
bonding of cellulose fibers to each other.
If lignins are
not removed and are left in contact with the
surrounding cellulose fibers in paper, their
acidity will break down the cellulose and the
paper will become brittle.
Lignins comprise 20 to 30 percent of wood, but
less than 1 percent of cotton fibers (despite
this <1%, cotton is considered "lignin-free").
Because of the high concentration of lignins in
wood, papers made from wood pulp discolor and
eventually self-destruct. Although there are
methods for the removal of most or all of the
lignins, unless the residual chemicals used in
these processes are also dealt with,
embrittlement and acidification will only be
postponed. For this reason, wood pulp papers are
generally avoided for permanent artwork. Because
it is nearly lignin-free, paper made from 100
percent cotton is most desirable.
Own a full-size,
3D replica of the
famous Rosetta Stone
WHY 100% COTTON? Paper is composed of
plant cellulose fibers. Cellulose is a polymer
of the sugar glucose and is used by plants to
produce cell walls. The source of the cellulose
fibers, and the degree to which that source is
refined, determine the nature and quality of the
paper produced. Cotton fiber is up to 10 times
stronger than cellulose fibers made from wood,
and cotton is naturally acid and lignin free.
WHY ACID-FREE? pH describes the acidity,
alkalinity, or neutrality of something.
Distilled water has been assigned a pH value of
"neutral" 7, which represents equal
concentrations of acid and alkali. Each whole
number represents a factor of 10-ten times more
or less acidic than the number above or below
it. The more acidic a paper, the faster the
cellulose will break down, resulting in a
shorter lifespan. A number of factors can
influence the pH of a paper. Residual acids from
processing, alum sizing, fillers used to create
bulk, oils used to make paper transparent,
optical brighteners, atmospheric sulfur dioxide,
and the presence of lignins can all result in a
pH of 4.5 or lower.
WHY BUFFER THE PAPER? Recent study has
shown that even the purest cotton papers will
become slightly acidic, even though they left
the mill at pH ranging between 6.5 and 7. This
may be due to the nature of the paper itself, or
because of exposure to air polluted with sulfur
dioxide and oxides of nitrogen --common
pollutants caused by the burning of fossil fuel,
which turn water molecules into sulfuric acid
and nitric acid. To cope with the natural and
unnatural acidification of paper, some
manufacturers add buffers to the paper. Buffers
such as calcium carbonate can absorb a
significant amount of acid. Buffered papers are
often slightly alkaline with a pH around 8.5. A
pH moderately higher than 7 is not considered
harmful in paper.
WHY OBA-FREE? "OBA" is an acronym for
"optical brightening agent". Many paper
substrates have optical brighteners added to
increase their apparent whiteness. The cellulose
fibers comprising paper have a natural yellow
color that is bleached during manufacturing, but
some slight yellow remains. To counteract this
yellow color, a "bluing" agent is added to
paper. The bluing agents are actually
ultraviolet dyes that work by fluorescing the
invisible ultraviolet light into visible light
(OB's absorb ultraviolet light and re-emit it as
visible blue and violet wavelengths), thereby
making the paper to appear brighter or whiter.
OB's are known as "fluorescent agents" because
they strongly fluoresce under "black light" (a
good test to see if a paper has OBA's).
However, many paper makers believe that optical
brighteners interfere with permanence, because
they can break down over time and can cause
irregular yellowing of the paper (or the inkjet
coating), or cause acidity in the paper, which
can lead to a premature deterioration of the
paper structure. In fact, the Library of
Congress defines an archival paper to be OBA-free.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<< Earth At Night YouTube Video from The Freeman Institute
Timelapse: Earthereal (from
Adonis Pulatus)
UNFRAMED
MUSEUM-QUALITY "EARTH AT NIGHT"
PRINTS
We also have different size prints
that are less expensive than the Fine Art
Images -- not framed
and thinner paper -- without the
full metal
frames. These are Museum-Quality prints,
printed on acid-free paper, using archival
ink, with zero pixilization. They are rolled
and shipped (FREE! within USA) in a tube.
Shipped to your door within 7 days.
You can personally arrange
for the mounting, backing,
UV lamination, framing and hanging hardware
for your own image. IMPORTANT: Because
these images are NOT laminated, do not unroll
them. The first time the image is unrolled is
to be by the framer...with extreme care, using
white gloves. Once it is under the Plexiglas
or glass, it is fine. It is sure to spark many
hours of wonderful conversation!
SIZE
EMAIL
24" x 46"
(2' x 3'10") -- "Big!"
email for pricing
(please include your telephone #)
36" x 70" (3' x 5'10") --
"Enormous!"
email for pricing
(please include your telephone #)
44" x 86" (3'8" x 8'2") --
"Humongous!"
email for pricing
(please include your telephone #)
O N
A L L O R D E R S
Artwork: Supplied Quantity: 1 Final Size: Depends upon the option chosen Ink: Heavy File Manipulation: Included Color Correction: Included Pre-Press: Included Printing: Included Mounting/Framing: Included Shipping: Included (see below for info)
Shipping: All prices quoted will INCLUDE
shipping by FedEx Ground within Continental US. Shipped
generally within 10 days of order, except for Christmas
season. Expertly crated and shipped by
truck. Shipments fully insured, and tracking numbers
sent to customer. 100% satisfaction guaranteed. Payment by
Credit Card, charged when shipped.
Returns:
Note
-- Fine art and Framed images are not returnable for
credit or refund, unless damaged. All framed images or
shipped insured. Refunds are the responsibility of the
carrier.
For Prints, if you are unhappy with your purchase of a
listed item for any reason within 14 days of receiving
your order, we will gladly refund the full purchase
price, upon receipt of the returned shipment from you in
original packaging. A restocking charge of 15% will
be applied for all returns of prints larger than
11"x14". However, if a print is damaged in transit
to you, we will replace the print postpaid by us free of
charges. This guarantee does not cover our cost of
shipping the item to you, nor the cost of returning the
item to us. Custom or Special orders or special City
orders may not be returned. However, we will correct any
defects. Customs or Local Taxes levied at the
destination cannot be refunded for International
shipments.
Make a
BIG Impression
Impressively Large Card Size: 11" x 4.75"
~
UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY ~ Private Labeled Note Cards
Contact us for Premier Note Card quantities: 500,
1000, 2500 or more -- with Your Company information
on the cards and envelopes.
We can even create special
inserts that say, Happy Holidays, Thank You, Congratulations,
etc...
Check out this panoramic picture of the earth
below. It is
a compilation of many night views taken by the Defense
Meteorological Satellite with the lights clearly
indicating the populated areas. What a piece of
photography! The quality of the photograph above
really doesn't do this image justice...
Some intriguing things to notice about the earth at night
(see larger image below): 1. Notice the development of Israel compared to the
rest of the countries in that region.
2. Moving East, most striking is the difference between
North and South Korea. Truly unique! Note the density of Japan
and Hong Kong.
3. Look how far upstream the Nile River stays brightly lit
(and it's contrast to the area around it.) After the Nile,
the lights don't come on again until Johannesburg.
4. You can see the train lines in Siberian Russia because
the cities are all built on the rail lines -- the
Trans-Siberian Rail Route.
5. There still is NO development at the mouth of the Amazon
(unlike the Nile and other major rivers.)
6. You could call South America, Africa, and Australia
"dark continents" because almost all of their
development is on their coasts. Look at the Australian
Outback.
7. Yugoslavia is one of the only dark spots in all of
Europe. In east Europe, there is a high population
concentration along the Mediterranean Coast. It's easy to
spot London, Paris, Stockholm and Rome and Naples.
8. The "spine" of Italy is completely black.
9. In the Midwest US (everything north of Texas) the city
lights form a nice "grid" of dots all lined up.
This grid pattern was established as a result of the General
Land Survey, initiated following the Louisiana Purchase to
map the newly acquired lands west of the Mississippi. The
GLS is based on a large scale grid of Principal Meridians
(north - south) and Base Lines (east - west). These grids
were then subdivided into 36 square mile Townships (6 miles
square, containing 36 sections of one square mile or 640
acres each). Each Township had a designated school section.
Roads tended to be located on the boundaries between
sections, thus forming a grid one mile by one mile. Major
roads, and subsequently railroads, tended to be located on
Township lines, forming a larger grid. This tended to impose
a distance of about 6 miles between towns, which has endured
to this day. Many Townships saw the development of towns
(and subsequently, cities), often at intersections of major
roads along township boundaries.
10. Note that Canada's population is almost exclusively along
the U.S. border.
* NOTE: We get many requests from people who want to
purchase this image. We finally found
someone who can create stunning museum-quality
images. It's not a cheap, mass-produced poster. They come in the
sizes and mounting options shown above.
Interested in learning more?
This image can also be seen in a
Google Maps interface at the
Night Earth
website.
_____________________________________________
---
O P T I O N S ---
1. All-Day "Diversity Seminar" Program --
Click Here
2. "Diversity Day" Presentation or Keynote Address --
Click Here
3. "Black History" Presentation --
Click Here
4. Dr. Freeman's African American History Collection --
Click Here 5. Preview Online Diversity Course --
Click Here
Flash Player needed to Preview Courses -- Download
Flash 6. Critical Incident Debriefing --
Click Here 7. Symbols that Address Cultural Awareness --
Click Here
Credit: Image by Craig
Mayhew and Robert Simmon, NASA GSFC, based on DMSP data courtesy
Christopher Elvidge, NOAA National Geophysical Data Center.
"earth at night -- earth
at night photo -- earth at night image -- earth from space -- NASA image -- NASA -- Defense
Meteorological Satellite -- world -- globe -- map -- earth image -- astronomy -- space science"