A major winter storm hit parts of the U.S. North last week. Also last week, there was a full moon. That how NASA’s Suomi NPP satellite was able to capture this image of moonlight shining on snow, on December 14, 2016, in the area around the Great Lakes. NASA said:
The lake-effect snow [came] on the heels of an earlier accumulation that piled up to several feet of snow in some areas last week, according to reports.
The crisp, bright glow of city lights in Chicago and Detroit offers … evidence that the ground is covered in snow. If the white shade in the image were due to cloud cover, an overcast sky would likely obscure lights on the ground. Note how clouds blur the landscape in the bottom left part of the image.
Cloud streets appear above Lake Huron and Lake Superior. These parallel rows of clouds are created by cold, dry air blowing over a lake and accumulating water vapor.
Deborah Byrd created the EarthSky radio series in 1991 and founded EarthSky.org in 1994. Prior to that, she had worked for the University of Texas McDonald Observatory since 1976, and created and produced their Star Date radio series. Today, she serves as Editor-in-Chief of this website. She has won a galaxy of awards from the broadcasting and science communities, including having an asteroid named 3505 Byrd in her honor. In 2020, she won the Education Prize from the American Astronomical Society, the largest organization of professional astronomers in North America. A science communicator and educator since 1976, Byrd believes in science as a force for good in the world and a vital tool for the 21st century. "Being an EarthSky editor is like hosting a big global party for cool nature-lovers," she says.
Like what you read? Subscribe and receive daily news delivered to your inbox.
Thank you! Your submission has been received!
Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.