North Korea is Dark

GlobalSecurity.org ^

[n2rox]

South Korea is bright, North Korea is dark. This amazing image was made by the orbiting Defense Meteorological Satellite Program (DMSP) satellite over regions of the world at night. The DMSP is a Department of Defense (DoD) program run by the Air Force Space and Missle Systems Center (SMC). The Defense Meteorological Satellite Program satellites carry the Operational Linescan System (OLS) in low-altitude polar orbits. These satellites record nighttime data. The Operational Linescan System has a unique low-light imaging capability ddeveloped for the detection of clouds using moonlight. In addition to moonlit clouds, the OLS also detects lights from human settlements,fires, gas flares, heavily lit fishing boats, lightning and the aurora. It is possible to distinguish four primary types of lights present at the earth's surface: human settlements, fires, gas flares, and fishing boats.

[n2rox]

North Korea without electricity....or at least lighting.

[Huck]

Wow. NK would be great for amateur astronomers, if it weren't for all that repression, and poverty, and dictatorship and all.

[AppyPappy]

"Kim Il Sung is our light".

[n2rox]

sorry! meant to add link.

http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/dprk/dprk-dark.htm

[freedomcrusader]

Notice it doesn't improve much, if at all, going into China (although I don't suffer any delusions about how, say Bejing, would show up).

[n2rox]

good point about China! Is this the government turning off the power or a true electricity deficit?

[SMEDLEYBUTLER]

[egarvue]

All hail the blessings of Communism!!!

[sanchmo]

[RightWhale]

NK is as it was in 1948 as far as lighting is concerned, and as the entire planet was. Most of the bright lights around the world have appeared since then, and at the same time our view of the night sky, stars, planets, and all has been destroyed. Most people haven't seen any stars dimmer than 4th magnitude since 20 years ago. That is, 99% of the sky is washed out and permanently invisible. Is this a good thing?

[n2rox]

I am one of the lucky ones that got to serve on US Naval Vessels during darken ship out at sea. I have seen what it was like before lighting ruined continental star gazing. You can't stop progress but "land lubbers" will never know just how many stars are out there. Absolutely phenomenal!

[John123]

Questions:

Does anyone know the date of this image?

The label on the top of the photo suggests April 15th, but wasn't that long before the North Korean crisis began?

Does this mean the North Koreans had energy problems even before we stopped sending them oil?

[SMEDLEYBUTLER]

Better image of East Asia. China is actually not as stark as the previous image would lead one to believe.

[Leatherneck_MT]

Amen to that

I also have been at sea during Darken Ship. The night sky on the open ocean is absolutely phenomenal (sp).

Semper Fi

[newgeezer]

That is, 99% of the sky is washed out and permanently invisible. Is this a good thing?

Let's see... I love to gaze into a clear sky on a dark night out in the country as much as the next guy -- really, I do! -- but, if the choice is between light pollution and living in 1948, I'll take the light pollution, thank you very much. ;-)

"99%"? Two-thirds of the planet is covered with water. Of the remaining one third, maybe 15% (at worst?) is "polluted" with light.

You could always go out to sea, move out to the country, or settle in N. Korea, China, Greenland, ... if that's your idea of living.

[ambrose]

Not sure I believe this one. Yes, most of N Korea is ass backwards... but I am sure they have lights and electricity in their capital city.

[blam]

Earth Lights the whole globe. (Lights at night at the bottom)

[RightWhale]

I'll take the light pollution

It isn't necessary to choose lights or darkness. We can have both. In fact, this is the law in several communities, in a couple of states, and in a few countries already. Simply control the lighting so it doesn't glare into your neighbor's yard, and stop letting all those light rays escape into the sky; shield those fixtures so the light goes where it is needed.

[balrog666]

Oh, my, that looks cooooooooooooooooooold!

[Poohbah]

Aw, darn, I left the porch light on AGAIN. My wife's going to kill me.