Nightime Satellite Images of NC, others

[architect77]

I love looking at this stuff...

Charlotte

Florida

[DPK]

http://spaceflight.nasa.gov/gallery/images...8-382-0014.html

I like yours better though because it's labeled, hehe. I'd hate to see the collective power bill for New York. That thing is lit up like a Christmas tree about to catch fire from a fuse overload.

NY:

[pack-man]

raleigh would be classified as a "green" city from that perspective. we are looking pretty dark.

[kickazzz2000]

raleigh would be classified as a "green" city from that perspective. we are looking pretty dark.

[pack-man]

at least they are adding lights at the 40/540 interchange. its a step in the right direction. perhaps there are plans to do this in other areas too.

[A2]

raleigh would be classified as a "green" city from that perspective. we are looking pretty dark.

[nowensone]

Hell, NYC and Philly haven't even converged yet, and core to core they are the same distance away from each other as CLT and GSO! I'm really surprised that the Triangle is so dim in the shot, they must have had a blackout at the time. Or cloudiness?

[DCMetroRaleigh]

raleigh would be classified as a "green" city from that perspective. we are looking pretty dark.

[architect77]

Keep in mind everyone that I labeled the cities and wasn't even quite sure which blob of light was Raleigh. Due to the angle along with the curvature of the earth, I may have them all wrong. I can say that when flying into RDU at night that Raleigh looks quite big.

The most impressive sea of lights, undoubtedly, is flying into Orange Cty, CA at night. If you are sitting on the right side of the plane, you see most of Orange Cty and LA in the distance. Because there isn't any canopy of trees, the lights go on as far as the eye can see, even when you're still at about 10,000 ft up. It's truly amazing.

[Waughtown]

at least they are adding lights at the 40/540 interchange. its a step in the right direction. perhaps there are plans to do this in other areas too.

[triadcat]

I think it is just the angle that it is shown.

Here is a satellite image of the US:

The Triangle looks just as lit-up as the Triad.

[SimCity]

Honestly, I think it is the angle that's all.

A2

If we could just get the Triad and CLT to join forces....(I think we might have something)

A2

[DCMetroRaleigh]

What is this fascination with lighting up the interstates??? Its a waste of electricity and thus taxpayers money that could go towards more beneficial projects and uses. So what if Burlington and Greensboro---or even D.C. have lit up interstates. Since when do we measure a city's stature by its number of illuminated roads?

[AuLukey]

I second that point. Driving in the dark causes room for safety hazards. It is much harder to see something in the road if only your headlights are shining out in front of you. If the road is lit, you have much more time to react to changes.

I love how in the last map Charlotte and the Triad are reaching out to each other via Concord, Kannapolis, and Salisbury. I-85 will someday just be a string of lights from Atlanta to Raleigh.

I'm actually a little surprised how well the outer banks show up in that image.

[cinco]

looks to me like the earth is slowly transforming itself into the DEATHSTAR.

[PlazaMidwoodGuy]

What is this fascination with lighting up the interstates??? Its a waste of electricity and thus taxpayers money that could go towards more beneficial projects and uses. So what if Burlington and Greensboro---or even D.C. have lit up interstates. Since when do we measure a city's stature by its number of illuminated roads?

[cityboi]

I do know on I-40 in west Greensboro there are slots in the median where highways lights are suppose to go. Eventually it will look like I-40 in Burlington at night.

[cityboi]

update! they've finally started installling the highway lights on the center wall on I-40 in west Greensboro.

[flith]

What is this fascination with lighting up the interstates??? Its a waste of electricity and thus taxpayers money that could go towards more beneficial projects and uses. So what if Burlington and Greensboro---or even D.C. have lit up interstates. Since when do we measure a city's stature by its number of illuminated roads?

[DCMetroRaleigh]

Sorry, I must be candid. City lights are one indicia of urbanity. Since it is, I like to have NC's roads lit to the max. If I were in charge, street lights would be copious within every city limit, as well as other commercial and populated strips.

[RaleighRob]

Should be interesting to see if street lighting improves with technology that uses less energy. I'm thinking mostly of LED's. The state has been using them for traffic signals for a while now...and I love them--brighter, easier to see in the day. Raleigh's now begun experimenting with LED's to light up parking decks. The one that I saw was impressive...sure it's not a "pure white" light...a slight blue glow...but better than those amber lights by far.

Perhaps soon a city here will start with LED street lights.

[Spatula]

Let's not get ahead of ourselves of course. Highway lights - great, but bad highway lighting that pollutes a lot isn't so great. We still want to see at least a few stars at night.

[flith]

Sorry, I must be candid. City lights are one indicia of urbanity. Since it is, I like to have NC's roads lit to the max. If I were in charge, street lights would be copious within every city limit, as well as other commercial and populated strips.

[kingdango]

For those of you complaining about light pollution... I highly suggest you come live in Detroit. No light pollution to worry about here... half the street lights don't work!

Of course, there is the whole risk of life and limb... especially in the dark.

[architect77]

Speaking of Light Pollution...

My uncle has a farm about 12 miles east of Louisburg in Franklin County near Mapleville. The main house (a registered historic 2 story farmhouse) sits atop a large field with few trees. On a clear night the sky is filled with thousands and thousands of stars. It's pretty amazing. Mars is easily identifiable and it's about as big as a quarter and dark orange.

For two years I've been meaning to go and buy a cheap telescope from Sears or somewhere, because supposedly even with just a little magnification you can see Saturn and its rings. If I actually was able to see something that far away with my own eyes, I think that would be really cool. Hopefully I'll get around to doing it.

Oh, and LEDs are going to revolutionize the whole lighting industry. In a few years, you will be able to buy thin "fabric" of LED lights that come rolled up like carpet or wallpaper. Entire ceilings will be lit with LED Technology in assorted colors. It will be cheap and not use a lot of energy. They are still having difficulty perfecting "white" LED light however.