View from space: Lights of London

Millions of people are taking pictures of London from many different filters and lenses during these 2012 Olympic Games. But it’s safe to say that none of the views will look quite like this view from space from the Suomi National Polar-orbiting Partnership satellite.

The image above shows London and the southern half of Great Britain. While most of the events in the 2012 Olympics will be held in the greater London area, several other cities and towns will host events, for example canoeing at Lee Valley White Water Center, sailing in Portland Harbour, rowing and canoeing at Eton Dorney, and cycling and mountain bike events at Hadleigh Farm.

The image was acquired on March 27, 2012 by the Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIIRS) on Suomi NPP, which includes a “day-night band” similar to images collected by the Operational Linescan System (OLS) flown on U.S. Defense Meterological Satellite Program (DMSP) satellites.

More views from space
View from space: Amazon deforestation 1975 to 2012
View from space: Greenland ice sheet gives birth to massive iceberg
View from space: Layers of atmosphere on the horizon
View from space: Crepuscular rays
View from space: US Midwest at night with aurora borealis

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