Aerial view of Malta by night ‘one big glow’

NASA has released nighttime imagery of the central Mediterranean region, shot three weeks ago by astronauts on board the International Space Station.

The photo shows the Italian peninsula which runs down across the centre of the frame.  

The night lights of Rome and Naples as well as those of Palermo and Catania in Sicily are instantly recognisable. And so are Malta and Gozo, to the lower left of the image.

Alexei Pace, for the Light Pollution Awareness Group of the Astronomical Society of Malta said that Malta "should be ashamed that the island is seen as one big glow from space".

Pace said that the aerial photos at night illustrate "the sheer waste of energy" from the over-illuminated buildings and roads.

"Floodlighting should be directed downwards and not into the night sky.  Countryside roads should not be lit but good use of reflective cats' eyes should be made in all ODZ areas," he said.

He added that non-essential lighting - such as churches, sports grounds and buildings - should be switched off after a few hours.  

"This will save energy, reduce carbon emissions, bring back the night sky into the cities and limit the development of ODZ areas," Pace insisted.

"Action is required from the authorities to protect our dark-sky heritage in the few pristine areas left in north west Malta as was done in Gozo and Comino in the 2006 local plan."

The night time panorama of much of Europe was photographed by one of the Expedition 32 crew members aboard the International Space Station flying approximately 240 miles above the Mediterranean Sea on 18 August.