Image credit: NASA, NOAA NGDC, Suomi-NPP, Earth Observatory.(Larger image)

This incredible image has been dubbed Earth at Night – a fantastic composite image showing how a huge chunk of the world looks once the sun disappears for the night. The images were taken by an array of satellites, with the Suomi-NPP satellite doing most of the heavy lifting, throughout the months of April and October, in 2012.

From this vantage point, we see a virtually cloudless planet, which gives us the ability to see first-hand how human activity has spread throughout Earth's surface and set it alight (so to speak). It is important to note that most of the light seen here comes from major cities (and, as a result,  this composite shows the effects of light pollution). In other cases, such as when viewing the western side of Australia, the light is a result of forest and/or brush fires.

Chances are, if you’re reading this now, there is a speck of light down there  that you call home.

If not, perhaps you can find your house from here:

Image Credit: NASA/Rex Features

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