If there is intelligent life out there zooming around in their interstellar craft then without doubt, should they happen upon us at night there would be little doubt that there is at least semi-intelligent life on this planet.
Here is what an alien would see if they passed close to Earth oribit over the North American Continent at night.
That is a LOT of light polution.
Where is the base photo at Sam, these seems a bit off as someone who lives in Flagstaff and our little corner of the Southwest is known for it’s dark skies. I know roughly geographicly where we and the Grand Canyon are, but there is far too much light to be there.
Not doubting you, but doubting the processing at the source. 😉
SciTech section of Fox News. I have no doubt that the image has been slightly doctored at the source, although I have seen similar, real time images from the ISS over the last few years…but I agree, this one looks a tad enhanced.
Alien1:
– Look at that, seems like that planet has inteligent life.
Alien2:
– Nah, thats imposible, it must be some natural phenomenon.
Alien1:
– Yea you’re right…
Either way, beautiful picture! Closest way for me to become an astronaut…through cool pictures like these! 😉
I really don’t think this picture is supposed to represent what the human eye sees from space.
See:
http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/Newsroom/NewImages/images.php3?img_id=4333