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Explanation: This remarkably complete view of Earth at night is a composite of cloud-free, nighttime images. The images were collected during April and October 2012 by the Suomi-NPP satellite from polar orbit about 824 kilometers (512 miles) above the surface using its Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIIRS). VIIRS offers greatly improved resolution and sensitivity compared to past global nightlight detecting instrumentation on DMSP satellites. It also has advantages compared to cameras on the International Space Station. While the space station passes over the same point on Earth every two or three days, Suomi-NPP passes over the same point twice...

<p>No, this is not about theology. Nor about a sudden discovery, or a blinding insight. It is literally about light. It’s also about a NASA photograph, a Southern front porch, and global political theory.</p> <p>Begin with this NASA composite photo. It shows the whole globe photographed during clear nights. Named “Earth at Night,” it is shown here in a small file.</p>