Satelite image of US during blackout

[Doc Nyar]

Amazing pic..

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[number6]

That's cool.

[gryphon]

yep, it's a real shame they didn't pay their electricety bills to Canada .. . .

[RotteVis]

Nice pic

[Doc Nyar]

Acriku pointed out to me that the image appears to be fake:

http://www.badastronomy.com/

August 26, 2003:
A fake image of the recent power blackout in the US northeast has been making the web rounds the past week. Yes, it's a fake. For one, the blackout wasn't total; there was still plenty of artificial light to be seen in real satellite images. Second, upon enlargement the image shows artifacts that are a tell-tale sign of manipulation. Someone took Photoshop or something like it and blacked out the region.

Here are the real pictures:

http://www.noaanews.noaa.gov/stories/images/nightlights-081403-0121z2.jpg
http://www.noaanews.noaa.gov/stories/images/nightlights-081403-0121z.jpg

Snopes appears to already have a page for it:

http://www.snopes.com/photos/blackout.asp

Thanks Acriku
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[number6]

Good catch by Acriku. It certainly had me fooled.

[Acriku]

I caught it during my weekly read of the FANTASTIC website called www.badastronomy.com that corrects 'bad' astronomy. It's a good read if you're bored or like astronomy.

Hey nyar, if you can be sneaky, so can I

[Doc Nyar]

Hey nyar, if you can be sneaky, so can I

LOL

[number6]

I caught it during my weekly read of the FANTASTIC website called www.badastronomy.com that corrects 'bad' astronomy. It's a good read if you're bored or like astronomy.

Hey nyar, if you can be sneaky, so can I

I will have to bookmark that site because I am interested in Astronomy. I plan to be out tonight to look at Mars. Apparently around 10PM it will be quite visible due to the close proximity.

[Doc Nyar]

Now that you mention it, he/she/it should be visible here as well..

[gryphon]

euh, not to be a pain. . although Mars is visible quit often. Usually planets are near the horizon. [ for us in The Netherlands ]. As they are on the same euh. . equatorial degree to the Sun as Earth is. . .so will most likly be around our equator. Mars can be identified quit easy, just like Sirius is the brightests star on the Northern Hemesphere, Mars won't give light itself but is reflecting it. . .making it not a shining dot although more a round dot in the sky. And last but not least. . . it's a little bit red .. . .
Venus however is a little harder to spot. As it is so closed to the Sun it will only be visible for "amateurs" just before or after Sun rise and Sun set.  Els it's bound to be behind the sun or being overpower in light by it.
Neptune is quit hard to spot, so is Pluto and I havn't seen Uranus more then 6 time I think  .. . . . . Saturnus ofcourse still is the most populair one to look at.

[number6]

Well apparently tonight Mars will get as bright as it ever can because of the close proximity to Earth. The Earth and Mars every 26 months are exactly next to each other and this time they are also at the closest points on their orbital paths to each other.  This orbital path thing is what is special this time around.  From the way the astronomers make it sound it will be brighter than Jupiter and red as you say. I can't wait until 10PM tonight.

[gryphon]

because of the close proximity to Earth. The Earth and Mars every 26 months are exactly next to each other and this time they are also at the closest points on their orbital paths to each other

the changes that anything comming from Mars, are a million to one he said ..

didn't know that .. and most news bulletins have passed me by today .. I might have a look myself later this night.