Cities from Space - Las Vegas, NV

Our orbital tour of cities from space is nearly over.  We return to the U.S. for a look at Las Vegas, NV:

Image from NASA's The Gateway to Astronaut Photography of Earth

Yes, it's Vegas, baby. The image was taken on November 30, 2010 by the Expedition 26 crew of the International Space Station. The Vegas Strip is often cited as being one of the brightest places on Earth, but I cannot confirm that.

Certainly there are no lighting controls where light is beamed up on a regular basis. The Luxor is a light trap that ensnares insects and birds alike with its bright beams. The glow can be seen many miles away in Death Valley. For another nighttime view of Vegas from the ground be sure to check out this GigaPan image.

Check out the video below, Does Las Vegas Care About their Light Pollution?