This article was published in Scientific American’s former blog network and reflects the views of the author, not necessarily those of Scientific American
I never tire of satellite images, and especially those of North Korea at night. Take a look at the latest image by astronauts aboard the International Space Station. South Korea and China are readily visible - their cities and industries lighting up the night sky. But in between.... is that an ocean?
Not an ocean in the literal sense, but perhaps in terms of an open expanse of... nothingness. Except we know millions of people live and work in North Korea. During the day a satellite image would reveal roads and cities and settlements. But at night? Darkness.
Want more? See North Korea by night from 2011 and 2012.
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Props to: Image Science and Analysis Laboratory, NASA-Johnson Space Center. "The Gateway to Astronaut Photography of Earth."