The composite map dubbed the black marble depicts earthly lights at night as observed.
Black marble nasa 2017.
This week april 12 2017 nasa scientists released the first new global map of earth at night since 2012.
By removing natural and stray light sources researchers have provided a clearer picture of the human footprint on earth and opened up new opportunities in disaster response demographics and applied research.
This image is one of several global images of the earth at night released in 2017.
5760x3240 png 6 3 mb.
Nasa has developed the black marble a daily calibrated corrected and validated product suite so nightlight data can be used effectively for scientific observations.
Night light maps open up new applications.
Released on april 25 2017.
Nasa has dubbed the new image black marble a play off the original blue marble of earth taken by the apollo 17 crew on december 7 1972.