ADVERTISEMENT
Nautilus Members enjoy an ad-free experience. or Join now .

Can You Identify These Cities From Their Light Signatures?

  • By Rose Eveleth
  • NASA Earth Observatory
Istanbul

Unravel the biggest ideas in science today. Become a more curious you.

Unravel the biggest ideas in science today. Become a more curious you.

The full Nautilus archive • eBooks & Special Editions • Ad-free reading

  • The full Nautilus archive
  • eBooks & Special Editions
  • Ad-free reading
Join

The light that a city emits is like its glowing fingerprint. From the orderly grid of Manhattan, to the sprawling, snaking streets of Milan, to the bright contrast of Kuwait’s ring-roads, each city leaves its own pattern of tiny glowing dots. See if you can ID these cities based on the way they shine.

Nautilus Members enjoy an ad-free experience. Log in or Join now .

  [removed][removed]

ADVERTISEMENT
Nautilus Members enjoy an ad-free experience. Log in or Join now .

 

 

ADVERTISEMENT
Nautilus Members enjoy an ad-free experience. Log in or Join now .
Article Sidebar Image
Astronomy

A Speed Camera for the Universe
Article Sidebar Image
Zoology

Are We Finally Over the “Jaws Effect?”
Article Sidebar Image
Zoology

When a Chimp Screams, What Do You Hear?
ADVERTISEMENT

Fuel your wonder. Feed your curiosity. Expand your mind.

Access the entire Nautilus archive,
ad-free on any device.
Explore Subscriptions
1/2
FREE ARTICLES THIS MONTH
Become a Nautilus member at our lowest price of the year.
Subscribe @ 25% off
2/2
FREE ARTICLES THIS MONTH
This is your last free article. Get 25% off for a limited time.
Subscribe @ 25% off