Post #2086641

2026-04-08 15:35 UTC

For that reason, in the new analysis the data is broken up and fitted separately depending on the viewing zenith angle (angle from straight down). This helps deal with the fact that city centers are typically brightest when viewed from above (and dimmer from the side), while the opposite is true of residential neighborhoods.

Replies (3)

@skyglowberlin@fediscience.org 2026-04-08 15:42

You're probably now saying "enough of what you did I want results!" So here's the main finding: yes, Earth is getting brighter on average. But it's certainly not getting brighter everywhere - there are lots of places where light emissions are decreasing! Here's the "gradually changing" areas in Berlin, for example. Within the city, there are places and neighborhoods that are brightening, and others that are darkening!

Open ##2086642
@glasspusher@beige.party 2026-04-08 15:42

@skyglowberlin very interesting, and as an amateur astronomer, depressing. Thanks

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@eldang@weirder.earth 2026-04-08 15:48

@skyglowberlin This is fascinating, thank you for getting into the weeds a bit. I'm so used to just treating satellite imagery as though it's from the zenith; I'm accustomed to season mattering, and sun angle in daytime images, but I just hadn't thought about this aspect of the challenge in your kind of work.

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