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The River Nile lights up the night in a photographic view captured from the International Space Station, sailing in orbit about 220 miles above. You can also see lights ringing the Red Sea, as well as Israel's lights along the Mediterranean coast toward upper right. I love the airglow effect visible at the edge of Earth's disc.
This picture, taken Oct. 28, was one of a series highlighted by my colleague John Brecher last month, but I can't resist coming back to it as today's treat for the Cosmic Log Space Advent Calendar. Maybe that's because we're in the midst of Hanukkah, the Jewish festival of lights. Or maybe it's because of today's story about the geology behind the ancient "Gift of the Nile" floods. This glittering view from space can be seen as a gift of the Nile for the 21st century.
Come back every day leading up to Christmas for another Advent calendar view of Earth from space. You can see the entire series of pictures, as well as other space-themed Advent calendars, by clicking on the links below:
- From Day 1: The Cosmic Log Advent Calendar so far
- Door 2 for Dec. 2: 'Alien' lake seen from space
- The Big Picture at Boston.com: Hubble Advent calendar
- Planetary Society: Solar system Advent calendar
- Zooniverse Advent calendar
Connect with the Cosmic Log community by "liking" the log's Facebook page or following @b0yle on Twitter.
Leave a Comment:
That's stunning. I love how it looks almost like a river of molten lava. I fly every week for work and when I'm up in the air and look down I always catch myself wondering about those seemingly random lights out in the middle of nowhere. In this North African desert portion of the world those solitary lights are even more poignant. Thanks Alan.
Yet another place where the stars have been stolen from the sky.
you used a computer to read this article. you're the one wasting energy. you're a hypocrite.
LOVE the picture. The picture of Italy was my desktop background last week, this next week it will be the Nile lights. Until something comes along and inspires awe I will be looking down on the pyramids at night time. Wonderful.
It's a wonderful world, especially when seen without borders.
Judging by Google Earth the Giza Pyramids are just left of the brightest spot, beneath the "left arm" of bright lights.
Having traveled to Egypt and spent time on the Nile, I can tell you it's really the only hospitable place in the middle and southern part of the country. There's a very distinct line that marks the end of the desert and the beginning of land that contains enough moisture to sustain life and you can clearly see that line from the river itself.
Love this photo.
look at all the light pollution ... looks like scars from a deceased wild animal. the stars that help build those great pyramids gotta be hard to see . same with every big city ...the weath of all man is the death of one planet.
Quick, Nanu-James! We have to get to the Spirit Tree and speak with Eywa about the rape of the sky!
you used a computer to read this article. you're the one wasting energy. you're a hypocrite.
No surprise given that people will naturally cluster around the only reliable supply of water.
i didnt know what a deceased cell looked like till i saw one ...it was the dark side of earth .
beautiful just beautiful......
Awesome!!!Those guys in the ISS know how to make excellent photos
Lovely. I'm wondering what the large cluster of lights south and west of Cairo is? Perhaps the Fayyum? Anyone know?
The article states that the "airglow effect" is visible along the "edge of the earths disc". That's not correct. That's neither the "airglow effect" nor the "edge of the earths disc". That's the space station interior lighting reflecting on the edge of the window through which the photo was taken. That is NOT the curvature of the earth (it would make the earth WAY TOO SMALL. The space station window is simply round.
Dude, that is very clearly the curvature of the Earth-- the horizon line of the physical earth (ocean and land) follows the exact same curvature. It's called a fish eye lens, dude. Notice that bizarre curving of the solar panel in the lower left of the photo? That's lens distortion.
Any idea what that bright light is on the upper right hand corner of this pic?
another very beautiful image, keep them coming
but what about the wasted energy spent sending light into the heavens?
you used a computer to read this article. you're the one wasting energy. you're a hypocrite.
Well let's see...We could chop down more trees and read a newspaper filled with Ads. Really, who is the hypocrite?
This is beautiful and the best way to see this piece of our world's history. The present Nile in daylight is a sewer replete with the bodies of dead animals. Truly the low light on our vacation cruise last May. I saw people beating their animals, cuffing their children. Travelling from Alexandria to the Pyramids was by armed convoy with tour guides who were no more than shills for cartouche makers. The Sphinx looks at a Pizza Hut, a Mickie D's and a Hardee's. One of the young sellers of papyrus bookmarks asked me if I was English. No, I told him I was American. He said to me, "Obama Family". That was the highlight of my two days in Egypt. Oh, and the satellite dishes on top of tombs - too poor to have a home, but live amongst the dead with DirecTV or their equivalent. It is much better to see the fantasy of the Nile at night.
oh my goodness
wow raisedbywolves, go smoke another blunt. you have delusional thoughts.
Why is their glorification of light pollution here?? I think it makes my skin crawl looking at that diseased
spectacle below. Such things look like cancer cells to me.
you used a computer to read this article. you're the one wasting energy. you're a hypocrite.
I moment of clarity within the constraints of sobriety. Beautiful. also I agree with Mike ######## most fully
I think this photo is beautiful!
fossil fuels wasted on beautiful lights
you used a computer to read this article. you're the one wasting energy. you're a hypocrite.
Is it not possible to point out that any light that can be seen from outside the area it's illuminating is wasted? It has a number of unintended consequences, not the least of which is that it robs the people in the area of being able to see the incredible beauty of the night sky.
Secondly, the computer and monitor I am using now consumes less energy than the CRT monitor alone from five years ago.
Lastly, you have no idea how I generate the energy that I use.
Livereater, perhaps you should try eating brains...you seem to be down about a litre.