RE: OT: But an incredible panorama image...

["Minneman, Scott <minneman@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>" <minneman@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

> Something tells me that this isn't a true photographic rendering. I think
> it's a composite using population density and speculation. For example
> India is totally lit up (high population with little electricity). Eastern
> Colorado to Wichita should be almost black. Same with Iowa. What's that
> bright light in northern Alaska? And there must be some huge ocean liners
> in the oceans.
>
> Rod S.

This page says it's basically a composite photograph...

http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/ap001127.html

...describes how it's done (tiled DMSP images), a few notable features on the map, etc.