Artificial light from Earth
© NAS
It’s World Population Day. Evidence of human habitation
Our photo today has been digitally altered by NASA’s Earth Observatory team to remove natural light. Doing so reveals just how much artificial light human settlements generate. We share this image to draw attention to the observance of World Population Day today. The event was inspired by the Day of Five Billion on July 11, 1987, when the United Nations estimates our global population reached that milestone. Each year, World Population Day encourages us to think about how our growing numbers might affect our future, and the future of the planet we live on.
The Great White Roller Coaster at Wildwood, New Jersey
Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness, Superior National Forest, Minnesota
Aerial view of the island Pantaleu near Sant Elm, Mallorca, Spain
Spring Point Ledge Light in South Portland, Maine
Red-necked grebes in Germany
Longs Peak in Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado
Mangrove forest in the Saloum Delta National Park, Senegal
Golden Gallopers Carousel on the seafront in Brighton, East Sussex, England
