NASA releases images of holiday lights brightening the night across the globe

(KMOX) - New stunning images from NASA show how holiday lights brighten the nights of cities all over the globe. NASA researchers found that nighttime lights in the United States shine 20 to 50 percent brighter in December due to holiday light displays and other activities during Christmas and New Year’s.

The maps above were created with the data sent from two satellites and it's showing the changes in lighting intensity and location around many major cities. It's comparing the nighttime light signals December, to the average light output through the rest of the year.

U.S. cities, particularly Baltimore, Washington, D.C., Richmond, Virginia, plus Houston and Dallas really show off their Christmas cheer at night, become 30 to 50% brighter during the Christmas holidays.  Atlanta looks like its own city of lights during the holidays, too.

Phoenix, Arizona saw the biggest change in light during the holidays while Miami, Florida saw only slight change.

On the other side of the world, the Middle East sparkled from space during Ramadan with night lights twinkling especially bright from Cairo, Egypt and Amman, Jordan.  Some Saudi Arabian cities were even 100% more brighter during Ramadan.