Surreal Images of Earth from Space

Seeing the Earth from space is one of the most humbling reminders of the smallness and fragility of our planet, and of the insignificance of humanity. In the words of Carl Sagan, “The Earth is a very small stage in a vast cosmic arena. Think of the rivers of blood spilled by all those generals and emperors so that, in glory and triumph, they could become the momentary masters of a fraction of a dot. Think of the endless cruelties visited by the inhabitants of one corner of this pixel on the scarcely distinguishable inhabitants of some other corner.”

The following images are not actual photographs from space, though many people on the internet have mistaken them for real photos from NASA. They were actually created by graphic artist Anton Balazh (Антон Балаж) from St. Petersburg, Russia. The images achieve their beautiful realism by compounding and altering real satellite images from NASA’s Visible Earth catalogs, and using GIS data to depict bathymetry and topography. The height of mountain ranges, which would normally look flat from space, are exaggerated in a style called raised-relief. The images were then altered to make them appear variously at night, day, and twilight. The effect is incredible, showing our planet as a tapestry of glowing city lights without political borders or labels.

Raised Relief South Asia — South Asia from Space at Night

Raised Relief South Asia Day — South Asia from Space at Day

Raised Relief Western US and Mexico — Northwestern Mexico and the Southwestern United States from Space at Night

Raised Relief Western US and Mexico Day — Northwestern Mexico and the Southwestern United States from Space at Day

Raised Relief Western Mediterranean — Iberia, Southwestern Europe, and Northwestern Africa from Space at Night

Raised Relief Western Mediterranean Day — Iberia, Southwestern Europe, and Northwestern Africa from Space at Day

Raised Relief Andes — The Andes from Space at Night

Raised Relief Andes Day — The Andes from Space at Day

Raised Relief New Guinea — New Guinea and Northern Australia from Space at Night

Raised Relief New Guinea Day — New Guinea and Northern Australia from Space at Day

Raised Relief Arabia — The Arabian Peninsula from Space at Night

Raised Relief Arabia Day — The Arabian Peninsula from Space at Day

Raised Relief Alaska — Alaska from Space at Night

Raised Relief Alaska Day — Alaska from Space at Day

Raised Relief Southeast Asia — Southeast Asia from Space at Night

Raised Relief Southeast Asia Day — Southeast Asia from Space at Day

Raised Relief Mediterranean — Southern Europe from Space at Night

Raised Relief Southern Europe Day — Southern Europe from Space at Day

Raised Relief Japan and Korea — Korea and Japan from Space at Night

Raised Relief Japan Day — Korea and Japan from Space at Day

Raised Relief Australia — Eastern Australia from Space at Night

Raised Relief Australia day — Eastern Australia from Space at Day

Raised Relief Eastern Mediterranean — The Nile and Eastern Mediterranean from Space at Night

Raised Relief Eastern Mediterranean Day — The Nile and Eastern Mediterranean from Space at Day

Raised Raised Southeast US — The Eastern United States from Space at Night

Raised Relief Southeast US Day — The Eastern United States from Space at Day

Raised Relief Persian Gulf — The Persian Gulf from Space at Night

Raised Relief Persian Gulf Day — The Persian Gulf from Space at Day

Raised Relief Mexico — Mexico from Space at Night

Raised Relief Mexico Day — Mexico from Space at Day

Raised Relief Great Lakes — The Great Lakes from Space at Night

Raised Relief Great Lakes Twilight — The Great Lakes from Space at Sunrise

Raised Relief China and Taiwan — Eastern China from Space at Night

Raised Relief China and Taiwan Day — Eastern China from Space at Day

Raised Relief Southeast Brazil — Southeastern Brazil from Space at Night

Raised Relief Southeastern Brazil — Southeastern Brazil from Space at Day

Raised Relief Southern Africa — Southern Africa from Space at Night

Raised Relief Southern Africa Twilight — Southern Africa from Space at Sunrise

Raised Relief Southern Africa Day — Southern Africa from Space at Day

Raised Relief Central America — Central America from Space at Night

Raised Relief Northeastern Europe and Russia — Northeastern Europe from Space at Night

Raised Relief Chile and Argentina — Southern South America from Space at Night

Raised Relief Caucasus — The Caucasus and Caspian Sea from Space at Night

Raised Relief New Zealand — New Zealand from Space at Night

Raised Relief Caribbean — The Caribbean from Space at Night

Raised Relief Northern Europe — Northern Europe from Space at Night

Raised Relief Scandanavia — Scandanavia from Space at Night

Raised Relief Maritime Southeast Asia — Maritime Southeast Asia from Space at Night

Raised Relief Europe Sunrise — Europe from Space at Sunrise

Raised Relief East Asia Sunrise — East Asia from Space at Sunrise

Raised Relief North America Sunrise — North America from Space at Sunrise

Raised Relief Australia Sunrise — Australia from Space at Sunrise

Raised Relief Eurasia — Eurasia from Space at Night

10 comments

Amazing!

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excellent maps

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Que belleza observar el planeta desde las alturas gracias muchas gracias.

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The ones with high elevation can’t possibly be actually from space.

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sinekonata says:

December 25, 2020 at 2:42 pm

Spoke too soon, the description says they are not indeed. But why the title then?

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Anonymous says:

March 14, 2024 at 4:38 pm

Your joking, right? It’s saying the perspective is from space, as in an overhead view of landmasses. Use some context clues, man.

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